US2832407A - Screen - Google Patents

Description

M. J. TRACY April 29, 1958 SCREEN Filed June 26, 1957 United States Patent SCREEN Michael J. Tracy, Maryland Heights, Mo. Application June 26, 1957, Serial No. 668,051 Claims. (Cl. 160-371) This invention relates to screens, and more particularly to a window screen of a type particularly adapted for use in penal and psychiatric institutions where security is an essential factor.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a screen of the class described having an improved, simplified, more economical means for holding taut the wire cloth of the screen; the provision of such holding means which is capable of resiliently yielding upon impact on the wire cloth to absorb,

the shock, thereby to prevent tearing loose of the wire cloth, also acting to retighten the wire cloth so that it will be flat; the provision of such holding means which allows for easy replacement of the wire cloth if necessary; and the provision of such holding means which is tamper-proof. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a screen of this invention, as viewed from what is the outside of the screen as it is mounted in a window, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on either of the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 showing the effect of impact on the wire cloth and,

Fig. 4 is a fragment of Fig. 2 showing how the wire cloth panel may be released.

Corresponding reference characters indicate correspending parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, a screen of this invention is shown to comprise a rigid open rectangular frame generally designated 1 defining an opening 3. The frame has a flange 5 projecting from the face 7 of the frame surrounding the opening 3. This face 7 of the frame is its outside face as mounted in a window opening. As shown,

the frame 1 is made up of angle bar sections, such as steel angle bar sections, with welded mitered corners such as indicated at 9 in Fig. 1.

A wire cloth panel 11 is located over the opening 3 on the outside of the frame engaging the edge of the flange 5. The cloth used for this panel is usually a heavy double-crimped stainless steel wire mesh, for example, a cloth made from .028 diameter wire woven twelve mesh to the inch.

Means of this invention for holding the wire cloth panel 11 taut over the opening is shown to comprise a plurality of retainers, each designated 13, mounted on the face 7 of the frame and located on the outside of the flange 5. Each of these retainers comprises an elongate sheet metal member (a sheet steel member, for example) of channel shape in cross section so that it has a web portion 15 and flange portions 17 and 19. The

panel of the screen;

2,832,407 Patented Apr. 29, 1958 ice flange portions 17 and 19 are generally parallel to one another but, rather than being at right angles to the web 15 flange 17 is formed at an acute angle to the web and flange 19 is formed at an obtuse angle to the web.

Each retainer is mounted on the face 7 of the frame with its flange portion 17 (which constitutes its base portion) engaging face 7 and with both its flange portions 17 and 19 projecting laterally outward away from the flange 5 of the frame. The base portion 17 extends to the frame flange. 5 and the web portion 15 angles back away from the frame flange 5. Each retainer is mounted on the face 7 of the frame by means of a pair of threaded studs 21 welded to the frame andextending outward from the frame through holes 23 in the base portion 17 of the retainer, with nuts 25 threaded on the studs over the base portions. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, these nuts are threaded down on the studs to hold the base portions 17 of the retainers flat against theframe. i

The wire cloth panel 11 has its margins bent as indicated at 27 to extend around the flange portions 19 of the retainers 13, and these bent margins of the cloth panel are firmly secured to the flange portions 19 by means of sheet metal clips 29 which are held in tightened condition as by means of self tapping screws 31.

The wire cloth panel is installed so that it is under tension and hence held taut over the opening 3. In the event of a blow on the panel, the web portions 15 of the retainers resiliently yield, bending inward toward the frame flange 5 as shown in Fig. 3, thereby absorbing the shock and preventing the cloth from tearing loose, also acting to retighten it. If it should become necessary to replace a wire cloth panel 11, nuts 25 are loosened to release the panel 11 (see Fig. 4), whereupon clips 29 may be readily taken off, and a new panel 11 installed. Then the new panel is tightened simply by turning down the nuts 25. i

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and. other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A screen comprising a rigid frame defining an opening, the frame having a flange projecting from one face thereof surrounding the opening, a wire cloth panel over the opening engaging the edge of the flange, and means for holding the wire cloth panel taut over the opening comprising a plurality of retainers mounted on said face of the frame outward of said flange, each of said retainer members having a base portion mounted on said face of the frame and a web portion projecting outward from said face of the frame, the web portion of each retainer being resiliently yieldable toward the flange, the wire cloth panel being secured to the web portions of the retainers.

2. A screen as set forth in claim 1 wherein each retainer is made of sheet metal and the web portion of each from the frame through holes in said base portions and nuts threaded on said studs over said base portions.

4.. A screen as set forth in claim 2 wherein the base portion of each retainer extends to the flange and the web portion of each retainer is bent to extend from the inner edge of the base portion at an acute angle to the base portion.

5. A screen as set forth in claim 4 wherein the base 3 portion of each retainer is mounted on the said face of the frame by means of threaded studs extending outward from the frame through holes in said base portions and nuts threaded on said studs oversaid base portions.

6. A screen comprising a rigid frame defining an opening, the frame having a flange projecting from one face thereof surrounding the opening, a wire cloth panel over the opening engaging the edge of the flange, and means for holding the wire cloth panel taut over the opening comprising a plurality of retainers mounted on said face of the frame outward of said flange, each of said retain" er members comprising an elongate sheet metal member of channel-shape in cross section so that it has a web portion and, flange portions, each channel-section retainer being mounted on said face of the frame with one of its flange portions engaging said face of the frame, and with both flange portions projecting outward away from the frame flange, the web portion of each retainer being resiliently yieldable toward the, frame flange, the wire cloth panel being secured to the other flange portions of the retainers.

7. A screen as set forth in claim 6 wherein the web portion of each retainer is angled back away from the flange.

8. A screen as set forth in claim 7 wherein the said one flange portion of each retainer is mounted on the said face of the frame by means of threaded studs extending outward from the frame through holes in the said one flange portion and nuts threaded on said studs over the said one flange portion.

9. A screen as set forth in claim 7 wherein the said one flange portion of each retainer extends to the flange of the frame and the web portion is bent to extend from the inner edge of the said one flange portion at an acute angle to the said one flange portion.

10. A screen as set forth in claim 9 wherein the said one flange portion of each retainer is mounted on the said No references cited.

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