Adjustable vertical barrier of retractable screen

Abstract

An adjustable vertical barrier is placed at the bottom of a retractable screen to accommodate uneven floor surfaces, the adjustable vertical barrier including a housing for attachment at one end of a screen housing and a weighted lift bar located within the housing for attachment of a felt gasket, the weighted lift bar being configured to receive the felt gasket. Wherein the lift bar is free to move vertically within the housing such that the felt gasket conforms to the contour of the floor surface and the lift bar is retained within the housing with a foot on the lift bar mating with a first notch within the housing.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of retractable screens, and more particularly to an adjustable vertical barrier placed at the bottom of a retractable screen to accommodate uneven floor surfaces. BACKGROUND

[0002] Screens are commonly used to enjoy the outdoors while providing some of the benefits of indoor living. Screens can be used to keep insects out of living spaces, provide shade, reduce wind speed, act as a wall component, and the like. For example, a screen can have an opening of a certain size that prevents flies, mosquitoes, or gnats from entering an outdoor living space, such as a patio or pool area. A screen can also be used to provide a bug-free garage area, effectively expanding a family's living area when weather permits.

[0003] A residence can include outdoor spaces that can be expanded by screening the area. For example, a garage can be used if flying and crawling insects are kept out. Likewise, a covered patio can make the area suitable for habitation even on the most bug-infested nights. Many times it is desirable to have the screens stowed away. For example, a patio or garage without screen openings can be more enjoyable when conditions are suitable and bug infestation is minimal. However, the same patio or garage can not be suitable for habitation when bug infestation is rampant. Screens are particularly useful at dusk when the patio or garage space is illuminated, as bugs are naturally attracted to light. Screens are also desirable on sunny days; they can provide shade protection while allowing air circulation.

[0004] One problem with screens is the seal around the edges, and improvements to screen accessories become important in order to provide so many benefits. The preferred method of storing large screens for patios and garages is to use a retractable screen that rolls from a cylinder located on a crossbar at the top of the opening to be protected. The edges of the screen are secured to a track that substantially prevents insects and the like from going around the edges of the screen. One problem with known retractable screens is that the track used to capture the edges of the screen can jam, making deployment and / or retraction difficult.

[0005] Applicant's U.S. Patent 11,326,395 discloses a retractable screen assembly for a framed opening that employs a frame track secured to each side support of the framed opening. The frame track forms a compartment for receiving a guide rail, with a relief washer located between the frame track and the guide rail. A screen mounted on a horizontally disposed rotatable shaft has laterally opposed side edges with an elongated flexible tab secured along the length of each side edge. The guide rail receives and guides the screen tab in a longitudinal direction, with the relief washer allowing the guide rail to traverse the frame track side walls to allow the screen to bend while maintaining a consistent tension on the screen.

[0006] U.S. Patent Publication 2006 / 0137836 discloses a sealed shade assembly having a pair of tracks mounted on opposite sides of an opening. Each track includes a spring system that pushes the track outward to keep the shade taut.

[0007] U.S. Patent 8,607,841 discloses a screen device having an inner track that is nested within a fixed track that guides a protrusion at the screen side edge that is wrapped around a winding shaft.

[0008] U.S. Patent 9,719,292 discloses a magnetic track assembly employing magnets. A first magnet is disposed within an aluminum channel and a screen receiver is disposed within a compartment that includes a second magnet disposed face-to-face with the first magnet.

[0009] U.S. Patent 9,382,752 discloses a roller screen vertical screen, panel or blind system (e.g., for insect, sun, hurricane, rain protection or to provide privacy and security) having a bottom edge counterweight bar and self-adjusting vanes that automatically adjust to accommodate a variable sloped surface to seal a gap created by the bottom horizontal counterweight bar of the roller screen and a floor surface that is contoured or sloped in a non-horizontal direction parallel to the direction of the counterweight bar. The self-adjusting counterweight bar for a variable sloped surface generally includes a counterweight bar body, self-adjusting vanes, customizable connection points, variable counterweight and anti-warping reinforcement. These elements are the lowest elements of the roller screen or blind. The extended elongated counterweight bar is connected at the bottom edge of the screen and includes a cavity that receives L-shaped vanes that are movably mounted within the cavity so that the vanes can conform to the rise angle or compound profile of the floor. SUMMARY

[0010] A vertically adjustable barrier for a retractable screen is disclosed, comprising a housing and a vertically adjustable weighted lift bar. The housing has at least two opposing side walls, an upper open surface, a lower open surface, and encloses a lift bar enclosure and a screen web enclosure separated by a transverse wall. The screen web enclosure is vertically positioned above the lift bar enclosure and has a cross section greater than the cross section of the upper open surface to connect and receive a screen edge. The lift bar enclosure has a first notch in its interior side wall and above the lower open surface. The weighted lift bar has opposing side panels, a top edge, and a bottom edge, wherein the top edge includes a foot that extends beyond one of the side panels, and the bottom edge is sized to receive and connect a felt grommet. The weighted lift bar is freely vertically movable within the lift bar enclosure such that the felt grommet conforms to the profile of a floor surface, and the lift bar is retained within the lift bar enclosure when the foot on the lift bar engages the first notch in the lift bar enclosure.

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable vertical barrier for a retractable screen to accommodate uneven floor surfaces.

[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a device that can accommodate uneven horizontal screen locations and uneven vertical screen surfaces.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide a barrier that can be adjusted to accommodate various spaces between screens when the barrier is in contact with the floor.

[0014] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention are disclosed. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of the specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 is a schematic view of an adjustable vertical barrier device with barrier housing and felt gasket mounted on an uneven floor surface;

[0016] Figure 2 is a front view of the adjustable vertical barrier device on a flat floor surface;

[0017] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the adjustable vertical barrier device in a first segmented area; and

[0018] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the adjustable vertical barrier device in a second segmented area. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] While the application can be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood however that the application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the application.

[0020] As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the adjustable vertical barrier device 1 is placed at the bottom of the screen housing 3 to accommodate uneven floor surfaces 2. The lift rod 70 is free to move around the housing 10 of the adjustable vertical barrier device 1 to accommodate uneven floor surfaces 2. As shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the adjustable vertical barrier device 1 is comprised of a housing 10 and a lift pole 70. The housing 10 has at least two opposing side walls 12 and 14, an upper open surface 16 and a lower open surface 18. The housing 10 encloses a lift pole enclosure 30 and a screen web enclosure 50, wherein the screen web enclosure 50 and the lift pole enclosure 30 are separable by a transverse wall 20. The screen web enclosure 50 is vertically positioned above the lift pole enclosure 30. The screen web enclosure 50 has an opening defined by the upper open surface 16. The screen web enclosure 50 is sized to be attachable to the top of the lift pole enclosure 30 and to house a screen edge 4 therein. More specifically, the screen web enclosure 50 has a cross section 52 that is larger than the upper open surface cross section 22 to allow the screen edge 4 to be rolled into it. The screen edge 4 is typically comprised of a rope, chain, zipper or profiled extrusion and is therefore constrained within the screen web enclosure 50 due to the cross section differential within the screen web enclosure 50.

[0021] The lift pole enclosure 30 is separated from the screen web enclosure 50 by the transverse wall 20 and is vertically positioned below the screen web enclosure 50. The lift pole enclosure 30 includes an opening defined by the lower open surface 18. The lift pole enclosure 30 can also include a first notch 38 disposed within a first interior side wall 32 of the lift pole enclosure. The first notch 38 is located above the lower open surface 18. In addition, the lift pole enclosure 30 can include a second notch 40 disposed within at least one of a second interior side wall 34 of the lift pole enclosure 30, above the first notch 38 and below the transverse wall 20. The first notch 38 and the second notch 40 are sized to cooperate with the foot 84 on the lift pole 70.

[0022] The lift rod 70 is encapsulated within the lift rod housing 30. The lift rod 70 is weighted. The lift rod is free to move vertically within the lift rod housing 30 so that the felt washer 5 conforms to the contour of the floor surface 2. The lift rod 70 has opposing side panels 72 and 74, a top edge 76 and a bottom edge 78. The top edge 76 includes a foot 84 that extends beyond one side panel 74 of the lift rod 70. The bottom edge 78 is sized to receive and connect the felt washer 5. More specifically, the bottom edge 78 of the lift rod 70 includes a pair of slots 80 for receiving and connecting the felt washer 5. The lift rod 70 is segmentally movable between the transverse wall 20 and the first notch 38 forming a first segmental area 90 and between the transverse wall 20 and the second notch 40 forming a second segmental area 92. The first segmental area 90 is longer in length than the second segmental area 92. The lift rod 70 is retained within the lift rod housing 30 when the foot 84 on the lift rod 70 engages the first or second notch 38 and 40 on the lift rod housing 30. The lift rod 70 rotates from one first interior side wall 32 to the other second interior side wall 34 to move from the first segmental area 90 to the second segmental area 92 or from the first notch 38 to the second notch 40 as shown in Figure 3 and 4 The second segmental area 92 is preferably used where the gap between the second notch 40 and the transverse wall 20 is less than or equal to the gap between the lower open surface 18 of the housing 10 and the uneven floor 2. The first segmental area 90 is preferably used where the gap between the first notch 38 and the transverse wall 20 is less than or equal to the gap between the lower open surface 18 of the housing 10 and the uneven floor 2. The first segmental area 90 is greater than the second segmental area 90 where the uneven floor 2 is greater than the second segmental area 90. It is contemplated that the first segmental area 90 is between 0 and 1.5 inches and the second segmental area 92 is between 0 and 0.75 inches.

[0023] The term "coupled" is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. In the claims, the use of the article "a" or "an" is expressly permitted to be "one" in addition to "one or more." Unless explicitly stated otherwise, the use of the term "or" in a claim in accordance with the present disclosure is intended to be an "and / or" unless explicitly stated otherwise. The use of the term "comprising" is intended to be synonymous with the term "including" unless explicitly stated otherwise.

[0024] The terms “comprising” (and any form of inclusion, such as “comprising” and “including”), “having” (and any form of having, such as “having” and “having”), “comprising” (and any form of inclusion, such as “comprising” and “including”), and “including” (and any form of inclusion, such as “including” and “including”) are open conjunctions. Therefore, a method or apparatus “comprising,” “having,” “including,” or “including” one or more steps or elements, possessing, but not limited to, possessing only those one or more elements. Similarly, a step or apparatus element of a method “comprising,” “having,” “including,” or “including” one or more features, possessing, but not limited to, possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, an apparatus or structure configured in a certain way is configured at least in this manner, but may also be configured in a manner not listed.

[0025] It should be understood that while one form of the invention has been illustrated, it is not limited to the specific forms or arrangements described and shown herein. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and that the invention should not be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any of the accompanying drawings / figures included herein.

[0026] All patents and publications mentioned in this specification demonstrate the skill of a person skilled in the art to which this invention pertains. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the present invention is well-suited for achieving the stated objectives and obtaining the stated results and advantages, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures, and techniques described herein represent preferred embodiments and are intended as examples, not as limiting the scope. Variations and other uses will be apparent to those skilled in the art, all of which are contained within the spirit of the invention and defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An adjustable vertical barrier for a retractable screen, placed at the bottom of the screen housing to adapt to uneven floor surfaces, characterized in that, The adjustable vertical barrier device includes: A housing having two opposing sidewalls, an upper opening surface, and a lower opening surface, the housing surrounding a lifting rod housing and a screen mesh housing, the screen mesh housing being vertically positioned above the lifting rod housing and having a cross-section larger than the cross-section of the upper opening surface, the screen mesh housing being sized to attach to and receive the edge of the screen mesh within the screen mesh housing, the lifting rod housing having a first notch formed along a first inner sidewall of the lifting rod housing, the lifting rod housing further having a second notch formed along a second inner sidewall of the lifting rod housing, the second notch being located above the first notch and spaced apart from the lower opening surface of the lifting rod housing; and A lifting rod having opposing side panels, a top edge, and a bottom edge, the top edge including a foot extending beyond one of the side panels, the foot being configured to engage a first recess or, conversely, to engage a second recess, the bottom edge of the lifting rod being sized to receive and attach a felt washer. in: The lifting rod is freely movable vertically within its housing, allowing the felt gasket to conform to the contour of the floor surface. When the support leg on the lifting rod engages with the first notch on the housing, the lifting rod remains within the housing, thus allowing movement within a first segmented area. Reversing the lifting rod to move the support leg to the opposite position allows the lifting rod to interact with the second notch on the housing, thereby allowing movement within a second segmented area.

2. The adjustable vertical barrier of the retractable screen according to claim 1, wherein the lifting rod is weighted.

3. The adjustable vertical barrier of the retractable screen according to claim 1, wherein the screen mesh shell and the lifting rod shell can be separated by a transverse wall.

4. The adjustable vertical barrier of the retractable screen according to claim 1, wherein the lifting rod housing further includes a second recess, the second recess being disposed on one side of the second inner sidewall of the lifting rod housing, located above the first recess and below the transverse wall.

5. The adjustable vertical barrier of the retractable screen according to claim 4, wherein the size of the second notch is designed to match the support leg on the lifting rod.

6. The adjustable vertical barrier of the retractable screen according to claim 5, wherein the lifting rod is movable between the transverse wall and the first recess to form a first segmented region; and movable between the transverse wall and the second recess to form a second segmented region.

7. The adjustable vertical barrier of the retractable screen according to claim 1, wherein the bottom edge of the lifting rod further includes a pair of grooves for receiving and attaching the felt gasket.

8. The adjustable vertical barrier of the retractable screen according to claim 1, wherein the first notch is disposed near the lower opening surface of the housing.

9. The adjustable vertical barrier of the retractable screen according to claim 1, wherein the first segmented region is larger than the second segmented region.

10. The adjustable vertical barrier of the retractable screen according to claim 1, wherein the first segmented area is between 0 and 1.5 inches.

11. The adjustable vertical barrier of the retractable screen according to claim 1, wherein the second segmented area is between 0 and 0.75 inches.

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