Flexible furniture screen

Abstract

A flex screen including: a width, a length, a thickness; a first perimeter edge and a second perimeter; a first stringer laterally spaced from a second stringer; an opening positioned between first second stringers; and a bridge to span between the terminus of the stringers. The opening is laterally bounded between first and second stringer and longitudinally bounded by the bridge. The flex screen may be elastically flexed in a flex direction about a flex axis to a flexed orientation that includes the torsional deflection of the first stringer. The lateral width of the opening is greater than the thickness of one of the first and second stringers.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION(1) Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a flexible furniture screen. This screen may be a sliding or a fixed screen. More specifically, this invention relates to a screen having openings therethrough and / or having a flexure bridging between laterally adjacent stringers.(2) Description of the Related Art

[0002] Conventional tambour is well-known and is most recognizable as the moveable cover in a roll-top desk. Construction of this tambour is also well-known and consists of a series of parallel slats that are stacked and then laminated to a canvas sheet. The canvas provides a flexure between adjoining slats to create the tambour. The tambour flex panel may alternatively serve as a door, where the opposed edges of the screen are guided within grooves or tracks to allow the screen to serve as a slidable door that may slide within the tracks to an open or closed position.

[0003] Fabrication of conventional tambour is a highly labor-intensive process that involves fabricating numerous individual slats, stacking these slats, and finally gluing these slats to the canvas. This translates to reduced throughput and high labor cost for conventional tambour.

[0004] The canvas flexure between adjacent slats allows the adjacent slats to hinge relative to each other to create a flexible panel. However, the canvas material can only support load in tension and does not have any appreciable stiffness or buckling resistance in the compressive direction (i.e. when adjacent slats are pushed toward each other). For this reason, the adjacent slats are aligned to be laterally abutting and without appreciable lateral space therebetween. Any such lateral space is minimized to include only the minimum canvas exposure to allow for flexure. This way, any lateral compression of the tambour serves to buckle and collapse the minimal exposure of canvas until the laterally adjacent slats abut each other. By minimizing any gap between adjacent slats, any compressive accordioning of the tambour panel is correspondingly minimized. It is preferred to minimize any “accordioning” of the tambour for proper function and predictability of its sliding action.

[0005] Further, the minimized gap of conventional tambour results in a flexible door that is effectively completely solid, without openings therethrough. As such, conventional tambour does not allow for air or light to circulate through the screen.

[0006] More recently, tambour has been constructed such that the slats may interlock with each other to effectively create a hinge between adjoining slats to eliminate the need for the canvas flexure. However, these tambour configurations still require numerous individual slat components that each have greater complexity and are expensive to produce.

[0007] As an alternative to tambour, flex panels have been created that utilize a grid of linear slits in a single panel. The slits are staggered such that the remaining material may flex in torsion, which allow these screens to flex. This includes a series of aligned slits or thin grooves that extend in generally linear longitudinal direction that is generally perpendicular to the flex direction. Adjacent columns of these slits are staggered, leaving ribbons of material therebetween that will torsionally twist when the panel is flexed in the flex direction. An example of this type of panel is marketed as Dutka® Flexible Wood.

[0008] These slits are commonly cut through plywood material by laser cutting or slitting with a circular saw blade. These slits are generally very thin in width, thinner than the thickness of the starting panel (i.e. longitudinal depth of the slit). The intent is to merely permit flexing of the panel. While these slits may permit a small amount of air and / or light to pass through, this is not the intent and the panel is more solid than open and is not a true ventilated screen.

[0009] It is further recognized that these slits; while allowing the panel to flex in the flex direction, also result in a panel that may be easily accordioned to be distorted to be stretched and compressed when opposite ends of the panel are respectively pulled apart or pushed together in the lateral direction. This distortion is termed herein as “accordioning” to describe lateral distortion in a manner similar to the expansion and contraction of the namesake musical instrument. This may be an undesirable type of distortion, particularly if the panel is intended for use as a tambour, such as a roll-top desk or a sliding door.

[0010] While these flex panels may be less expensive to produce than conventional tambour, they are prone to “accordioning” (as defined herein) such that they are not commonly utilized as tambour panels such as the aforementioned roll-top desk application.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In accordance with the present invention, it is desired to create a flexible panel that preferably may be considered as a flex screen that: has openings therethrough for air and / or light to filter therethrough; may be easily flexed without damage to itself; is economical to manufacture; and preferably resists accordioning (as defined herein) in the lateral direction.

[0012] In contrast to conventional flex-panels, the present invention utilizes openings or windows instead of slits. These openings have a width much greater than the aforementioned slits of a conventional flex panel. It is preferable that the width of these openings are equal to, or greater, than the thickness of the panel. It is more preferable that the width of these openings are two or more times the thickness of the panel. It is also preferable that these openings have a combined area (i.e. “open area”), as viewed in the plan view, of at least 40% of the overall area of the flex panel. By utilizing openings with such a pronounced width, it is possible to provide a truly ventilated flex panel that allows air and / or light to more effectively pass through and thus may be considered as a flex screen.

[0013] Since these openings may potentially exhibit excessive “accordioning”, as defined herein, it is preferable to include bending flexures in the flex panel. These flexures are described in greater detail herein and serve to significantly reduce the “accordioning” deflection described herein, while still permitting the flexure of the flex screen. This allows the ventilated flex panel of the present invention to be effectively substituted for a conventional flex panel or tambour.

[0014] It is also preferable that the flex screen additionally include stiffener(s) that are thicker and / or of a stiffer material than the flexing portion of the flex screen. The stiffener(s) serve to stiffen the unsupported perimeter portion of the flex screen and minimize excessive flex in the thickness direction. The stiffener(s) may also serve as handles to facilitate manual manipulation and / or operation of the flex screen.

[0015] In accordance with the present invention, it has now been found that the forgoing objects and advantages may be readily obtained.

[0016] The present invention provides for true and effective ventilation therethrough. This ventilation may allow light and / or air to pass through the flex panel for functional and / or aesthetic benefit.

[0017] The present invention also may include additional geometry that permits this flex screen to flex in the flex direction while limiting and / or minimizing accordioning in the lateral direction.

[0018] The present invention may be utilized as a flex screen in place of a tambour and / or a conventional flex panel.

[0019] Further features of the present invention will become apparent from considering the drawings and ensuing description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The present invention will be more readily understandable from a consideration of the accompanying exemplificative drawings, wherein:

[0021] FIG. 1a is a is a plan view of a flattened prior-art flex panel;

[0022] FIG. 1b is a perspective view of the prior-art flex panel of FIG. 1a that is shown to be flexed in the flex direction;

[0023] FIG. 1c is a perspective detail view of the prior-art flex panel of FIG. 1b that is shown to be flexed in the flex direction;

[0024] FIG. 1d is a cross section detail view, taken along 76-76, of the prior-art flex panel of FIG. 1a, showing adjacent stringers as flexed and contacting each other;

[0025] FIG. 2a is a perspective exploded view of a first embodiment of the present invention, schematically illustrating the general configuration utilizing two flex screens in a sliding-door arrangement. Including a shelf assembly having grooved tracks to receive the flex screen. The flex screens are shown as flexed to approximate the contour of the grooves;

[0026] FIG. 2b is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 2a, showing the flex screens as assembled in the grooved tracks of the shelf assembly;

[0027] FIG. 2c is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 2a, showing the flex screen as flattened and non-flexed;

[0028] FIG. 2d is a cross-section view, taken along 79-79, of the flex screen of FIG. 2c;

[0029] FIG. 2e is a plan view of the flattened flex screen of FIG. 2c;

[0030] FIG. 2f is a cross-section detail view, taken along 79-79, of the flattened flex screen and corresponding to the view of FIG. 2d;

[0031] FIG. 2g is a perspective detail view of the flattened flex screen and corresponding to the view of FIG. 2c;

[0032] FIG. 2h is a perspective view of a flex screen of the embodiment of FIG. 2a that is shown as flexed and corresponding to the view of FIG. 2a;

[0033] FIG. 2i is a perspective detail view of the flex screen of FIG. 2h shown as flexed and corresponding to the view of FIG. 2a;

[0034] FIG. 2j is a cross-section detail view of the flex screen of FIG. 2i along 78-78, showing the stringers as torsionally flexed and displaced during flex of the flex screen;

[0035] FIG. 3a is a perspective exploded detail view of a second embodiment of the present invention, showing the longitudinally distal ends of the stringers having a slot to receive a spline;

[0036] FIG. 3b is a perspective detail view of the embodiment of FIG. 3a, showing the spline as next assembled to the slots of the stringers to create flexures between adjacent stringers.

[0037] FIG. 4a is a perspective exploded detail view of a third embodiment of the present invention, showing the stringers having a tab portion and a strap to be joined to the stringers;

[0038] FIG. 4b is a perspective detail view of the embodiment of FIG. 4a, showing the strap as next connected to the tab portion to create flexures between adjacent stringers.

[0039] FIG. 5 is a partial plan view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to the view of FIG. 2e, showing a flex screen with stringers having variable width and a stringer axis that is biased from the flex axis and openings having variable width.

[0040] FIG. 6a is a perspective exploded view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention, schematically illustrating the general configuration utilizing a first flex screen as a longitudinal spacer and a second flex screen in a sliding-door arrangement. Including a shelf assembly having pockets to receive tabs of the first flex screen and grooved tracks to receive the second flex screen. The flex screens are shown as flexed to approximate the contour of the grooves;

[0041] FIG. 6b is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 6a, showing the flex screens and shelf assembly as assembled;

[0042] FIG. 6c is a perspective view of a shelf of the embodiment of FIG. 6a;

[0043] FIG. 6d is a perspective view of a starting solid flat panel used to produce the first flex screen of the embodiment of FIG. 6a.

[0044] FIG. 6e is a perspective view of the first flex screen of the embodiment of FIG. 6a, shown in an un-flexed flattened configuration;

[0045] FIG. 6f is a perspective view of the second flex screen of the embodiment of FIG. 6a, including flexures, shown as flexed in the flex direction;

[0046] FIG. 6g is a perspective view of the second flex screen of the embodiment of FIG. 6a, including flexures, shown as an un-flexed flattened panel;

[0047] FIG. 6h is a perspective view of an alternate second flex screen of the embodiment of FIG. 6a, shown as flexed in the flex direction, and excluding flexures;

[0048] FIG. 6i is a partial perspective view of an alternate second flex screen of the embodiment of FIG. 6h, shown as flexed in the flex direction, and including hinged traversing member made up of spacer beads and strings.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0049] FIGS. 1a-d describe a prior art flex panel 40 that comprises a face surface 11 lattice of stringers 44 that are laterally connected to each other by bridges 46. Stringers 44 are shown to have a thickness 47. The width 45 of slits 42 between adjacent stringers is very thin and narrow, significantly narrower than the thickness 47 of the adjacent stringers 44. The narrow width 45 tends to restrict and limit the amount of air and / or light from passing through the flex panel 40. This is generally the intent of flex panels 40, since the objective is to emulate a solid panel, while allowing that it may be easily bent or warped about a longitudinal axis 43. The “open area” of the flex panel 40 is defined as the ratio of the surface area of the openings pierced by slits 42 to the overall surface area of the flex panel without inclusion of the slits 42. In such prior art flex panels, this open area is on the order of approximately 10% or possibly as much as 20%. This minimal level of open area creates a flex panel 40 that functions similar to a solid barrier does not have sufficient open area to provide significant ventilation and / or light transmission. Thus, there is negligible means to provide visible viewing through such a flex panel.

[0050] Such flex panels are commonly produced from a solid plywood panel that is strategically cut through its thickness to create the longitudinally staggered slits 42 with stringers 44 laterally straddling each slit 42 as shown. The starting plywood panel may be cut via laser, waterjet, saw, router, or other type of cutting method to create a series of longitudinally aligned slits 42, with bridges 46 therebetween. The slits 42 are commonly created by the kerf (i.e. width of cut) of the cutting method. In other words, the cutter makes only a single longitudinal pass to create each slit 42 such that the width 45 corresponds to the thickness of the saw blade or the diameter of the router bit, etc.

[0051] Flex panel 40 has a lateral direction 16, a longitudinal direction 17, and a thickness direction 18. These direction conventions are used throughout this disclosure. Laterally adjacent slits 42 are longitudinally staggered from each other such that a given slit 42 longitudinally overlaps its adjacent bridge 46. Thus, when the flex panel 40 is flexed or warped about a longitudinal flex axis 43 in direction 48, as shown in FIGS. 1b-c, the stringers 44 will torsionally flex and twist as shown in FIG. 1d. FIG. 1d shows two laterally adjacent stringers 44 as each torsionally deflected and twisted in directions 48 by angles 41. Thus, the flex of flex panel 40 about flex axis 43 is facilitated by torsional deflection of stringers 44. Due to the narrow width 45 of slits, the torsional deflection of stringers 44 may serve to further narrow the slits 42, potentially to the point where adjacent stringers 44 may actually contact each other at contact point 49 as shown in FIG. 1d.

[0052] It is noted that flex panel 40 does not include thickened handles to be gripped and / or to provide increased stiffness, nor does it include a flexure to reduce accordioning as described hereinbelow. As such, prior art flex panels are commonly used only in stationary applications that are not manipulated to slide in tracks or to serve in place of a tambour.

[0053] FIG. 2a shows a cabinet 1 of the present invention, serving as a piece of furniture and including shelf assembly 2 and flex screens 4a and 4b. Shelf assembly 2 is shown here to have three shelves 8a-c and four support columns 10a-d that serve to support the shelves 8a-c in the orientation shown. Shelf 8c has a perimeter groove 6b that extends along and adjacent its perimeter as shown. Columns 10a-d serve to support shelves 8a-c and extend to the ground to serve as feet to support the shelf assembly 2. The groove 6b is open in an upwardly facing direction to receive the flex screens 4a and 4b. Shelf 8a has a perimeter groove 6a (obscured) that extends along and adjacent its perimeter. The groove 6a (obscured) is open in a downwardly facing direction and is mirrored to groove 6b to receive the flex screens 4a and / or 4b. It may be seen that grooves 6a and 6b have a curved and “dumbbell” shape to correspondingly guide the flex screens 4a and 4b upon assembly and to clearly illustrate the reverse flexing of flex screens 4a and / or 4b.

[0054] Flex screen 4a is shown in FIG. 2a in a flexed orientation such that its upper perimeter edge 12a corresponds to the contours of groove 6a and its lower perimeter edge 14a corresponds to the contours of groove 6b. Similarly, flex screen 4b is shown to be flexed such that its upper perimeter edge 12b corresponds to the contours of groove 6a and its lower perimeter edge 14a corresponds to the contours of groove 6b.

[0055] FIG. 2b shows the flex screens 4a and 4b as assembled to the shelf assembly 2 in a flex screen assembly where respective upper perimeter edges 12a and 12b and respective lower perimeter edges 14a and 14b are nested within respective grooves 6a and 6b. Grooves 6a and 6b serve as tracks to guide flex screens 4a and 4b and maintain their flexed orientation. Flex screens 4a and 4b may now be laterally glided and guided within their mating grooves 6a and 6b in a manner similar to a conventional tambour door arrangement. As flex screens 4a and 4b are laterally displaced and glided within grooves 6a and 6b, they will each be correspondingly flexed about a virtual and generally longitudinal flex axis 23 to follow the curvature of grooves 6a and 6b. It may be seen that grooves 6a and 6b serve to retain flex screens 4a and 4b and limit their displacement in both their longitudinal and thickness directions, while permitting displacement in the lateral direction.

[0056] FIGS. 2c-g show the flex screen 4a as flattened prior its assembly within shelf assembly 2 to have an overall lateral width 96 (between handles 24a and 24b) and an overall longitudinal length 97 between upper perimeter edge 12a and lower perimeter edge 12b. It may be preferable to initially form the flex screen 4a in this flattened configuration and then flex the flex screen 4a in the flex direction 19 about flex axis 23 as shown in FIGS. 2a-b for assembly within perimeter grooves 6a and 6b. In their flattened configurations, flex screen 4a may be identical to flex screen 4b. For the purpose of definition herein, the following directional and orientations are described: The lateral direction 16 is a direction along the perimeter edges 12a-b and 14a-b and generally perpendicular to the flex axis 23, whether the flex screen 4a is flattened or flexed. The longitudinal direction 17 is a direction generally perpendicular to the lateral direction 16 and generally parallel to the flex axis 23. The thickness direction 18 is a direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal direction 17 and lateral direction 16 and is a direction along the thickness of the flex panel 4a. The flex direction 19 is the primary flexure direction of the flex screen 4a, such that it may be flexed and curved about a longitudinally extending flex axis 23 as shown in FIGS. 2a-b. Longitudinal direction 17 is a generally linear direction while the lateral direction is a direction generally along the perimeter edges 12a and 14a and may be linear when the flex panel 4a is flattened and may be curved to follow the flex screen 4a as it is flexed as described herein.

[0057] The flex screen 4a comprises a lattice of stringers 20 that are laterally connected to each other by bridges 22 and flexures 26. The lateral perimeter edges 13a and 13b of the flex screen 4a each include respective longitudinally-extending thickened handles 24a and 24b to allow the operator to comfortably grip the flex screen 4a when manually gliding it within grooves 6a and 6b as previously described.

[0058] Stringers 20 are shown to have a thickness 34 and a lateral width 33. Along perimeter edges 12a and 14a, this thickness 34 corresponds to the width of grooves 6a and / or 6b, preferably with a thickness clearance therebetween as is common in conventional tambour door applications. This clearance allows the flex screen 4a to glide within perimeter grooves 6a and 6b without binding, with the flex screens 4a and 4b passively flexing, to follow as dictated by the variable curvature of grooves 6a and 6b.

[0059] Handles 24a and 24b provide a convenient handle for manual gripping and manipulation of the flex screen 4a. Handles 24a and 24b may also have a thickness 39 that is greater than the thickness 34 of stringers 20 and thus also serve to stiffen the respective longitudinal perimeter edges 13a and 13b and restrain bowing and flex of longitudinal perimeter edges 13a and 13b in the thickness direction 18.

[0060] Stringers 20 have a lateral width 33 and span by longitudinal length 25 between its connection to bridges 22. Lateral width 33 is shown here to be generally uniform, except where stringers 20 flare slightly at their connections with longitudinally adjacent bridges 22. Bridges 22 extend generally laterally to connect and link laterally adjacent stringers 20 to each other. The stringers 20 themselves are shown to extend along a generally longitudinal stringer axis 73 between bridges 22 and or between a bridge 22 and a flexure 26. It may be seen that laterally adjacent bridges 22 are also longitudinally staggered as shown. This means that any of the bridges 22 serve to connect only two laterally adjacent stringers 20. While a given stringer 20 may be connected to two bridges 22, these bridges 22 are longitudinally spaced from each other. Thus, when the flex screen 4a is flexed in the flex direction 19, the stringer 20 will torsionally twist and torsionally deflect in direction 72 (FIG. 2i) about a generally longitudinal axis to provide for the flexing of the flex screen 4a and shown in FIGS. 2a-b. This torsional twist is particularly illustrated in FIG. 2j, where adjacent individual stringers 20′ and 20″ are shown to be torsionally deflected in respective directions 72′ and 72″ by respective angles 29′ and 29″, each about a longitudinal axis along the respective stringer. Meanwhile, the bridge 22 serves to link the terminus of these stringers 20′ and 20″ to each other. This torsional twisting of the stringers 20 serves to facilitate the flex of the flex screen 4a in the flex direction 19. It is preferable that the longitudinal length 25 of stringer 20 be at least twice its lateral width 33 and at least twice its thickness 34 to provide that this torsional deflection occurs within the elastic limit of the material of the stringer 20. It may be preferable that the bridges 22 be generally rigid and do not flex appreciably due to this torsional deflection and the corresponding flex of flex screen 4a about flex axis 23. Alternatively, bridges 22 may have a degree of flex in the flex direction 19 due to the flex about flex axis 23.

[0061] It is noted that, unlike the slits of FIGS. 1a-c, openings 30 are of generous opening width 32, such that when the flex screen 4a is flexed in flex direction 19, the adjacent stringers 20 do not contact each other and sufficient light and air may pass through openings 30. Openings 30 have a longitudinal length 15 that is shown here to be greater than their lateral width 32. It is preferable that length 15 be at least twice width 32 to optimize torsional deflection of stringers 20 and their elastic flexing in flex direction 19. It is also envisioned that length 15 may alternatively be equal to, or even less than, width 32, but this arrangement has the potential to result in sub-optimal geometry of stringers and / or bridges, where the elastic flexing and / or structural integrity and / or optimal open area of the flex screen may be difficult to maintain. The “open area” of the flex screen 4a is defined as the ratio of the surface area of the pierced openings 30 to the surface area of the flex panel 4a without the openings 30, as viewed in the flattened plan view of FIG. 2e. It is preferable that the open area be at least 30%, or preferably greater than 40%. This level of open area creates a flex screen 4b that functions as a true “screen” and provides meaningful ventilation and / or light transmission therethrough. This also provides for sufficient visible viewing through the flex screen 4a with only minimal visibility restriction (in contrast to the prior-art flex panel 40), allowing the user to visually identify objects through the flex screen 4a. An open area greater than 85% may potentially result in sub-optimal geometry of the stringers and / or bridges, where these elements are too thin to provide sufficient structure of the flex screen.

[0062] Bridges 22 also serve to link and connect laterally adjacent stringers 22 and also serve to resist these stringers' 20 longitudinal displacement relative to each other. By linking and joining the stringers 22 with bridges 22, the overall squareness (between the longitudinal direction 16 and lateral direction 16) of the flex screen 4a is maintained and any in-plane racking or parallelogram distortion is minimized. Conversely, if there were significant longitudinal displacement between adjacent stringers 22, the overall flex screen could experience significant and adverse in-plane distortion such as racking or parallelogramming where the squareness of the flex screen 4a is not maintained. This could cause the flex screen 4a to bind within grooves 6a and 6b and / or cause its longitudinal length 97 to be reduced, adversely allowing the perimeter edges 12a and / or 14a to be released from mating grooves 6a and / or 6b.

[0063] Openings 30 may be considered “closed openings” in that they are shown to be longitudinally bounded by two bridges 22 and laterally bounded by two stringers 10. The openings 30′ that longitudinally intersect the upper perimeter edge 12a or lower perimeter edge 14a may be considered “gap openings” in that they are longitudinally bound by only a single bridge 22. Instead, openings 30′ have an entrance 51 adjacent the upper perimeter edge 12a or lower perimeter edge 14a, where a flexure 26 traverses laterally across this entrance 51 such that openings 31′ are longitudinally bounded by a single bridge 22 and a flexure 26.

[0064] The material and dimensions of the stringers 20 may be specified such that they may be relatively easily twisted without high torsional stiffness and torsional resistance. This allows the flex screen 4a to easily flex in flex direction 19 such that it may take on the flexed curvature shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b and may be passively flexed as the flex screen is glided and tracked within grooves 6a and 6b. It is preferable that stresses within the stringer 20 due to twisting be within the elastic limit its material such that the flex screen 4a may be operated and flexed multiple times without degradation or failure.

[0065] Depending on the material used to form the flex screen 4a, including the thickness and other dimensions of the flex screen 4a, the stringers 20 may also be easily flexed in the lateral direction 16. Thus, as the flex screen 20 is manually operated by handles 24a and / or 24b, the stringers 20 may flex laterally toward each other (as handle 24a is laterally pushed toward handle 24b) or away from each other (as handle 24a is laterally pulled away from handle 24b). Correspondingly the flex screen 4a may deflect to compress (i.e. collapse) and / or extend (i.e. stretch) in the lateral direction 16, resulting in an overall “accordioning” of the flex screen 4a, where the flex screen 4a is adversely collapsibly compressed or expandably stretched like an accordion by varying the lateral distance between adjacent stringers 20.

[0066] To provide resistance to this accordioning, it may be preferable to include features that limit or restrict this aforementioned lateral flex. These features serve to restrain lateral displacement between adjacent stringers 20 to correspondingly restrain lateral compression and / or lateral stretch. One example of such a feature is to include flexures 26 that connect between adjacent stringers as shown in FIGS. 2a-i. Flexures 26 are webs of structural material that span between laterally adjacent stringers 20 and are preferably longitudinally aligned as shown. These flexures 26 are generally thinner and / or of more pliable and flexible material (i.e. lower elastic modulus) than bridges 22 such that they may serve as flexible hinges that can be easily flexed to swing in the flex direction 19 while also providing resistance to lateral displacement between these adjacent stringers 20. As such, the two continuous lateral rows of flexures 26, interspersed between adjacent stringers 20, that are shown in FIGS. 2a-i to be adjacent respective perimeter edges 12a and 14a, serve to provide significant resistance to the aforementioned accordioning of the flex screen 4a. It is preferred that this continuous lateral row of flexures 26 and stringers 20 extend along the full lateral width 96 of flex screen 4a as shown to provide maximum resistance to accordioning.

[0067] In flexing the flex screen 4a in the flex direction 19, it is preferred that flexures 26 function to provide to provide reduced or minimized resistance to deflection of the stingers 20 in the flex direction 19, while also reducing deflection of the stringers 20 in the lateral direction 16. This may be achieved either by reducing the thickness 28 of the flexures 26 (i. e. making flexures 26 thinner than the adjoining stringer 20) and / or by utilizing a flexure 26 that is made from a different material that has reduced material stiffness relative to the material of the adjoining stringer 20. For example, the flexure 26 may be made of a resilient material such as rubber, while the adjoining stringer may be made of wood. The rubber material has a lower material stiffness (i.e. flexural modulus) than the wood. It is understood that the term “material stiffness” refers to an intrinsic property of the material itself that is irrespective of the dimension.

[0068] As particularly shown in FIG. 2f, flexures 26 have a thickness 28 that is thinner than thickness 34 of stringers 20. The flexures 26 are preferably of a dimension and / or material that will permit adjacent stringers to deflect relative to each other in the flex direction, while resisting lateral displacement therebetween. It is preferable that flexures 26 are of sufficient thickness to resist compressive buckling in the lateral direction 16. These flexures 26 may be formed directly within the material of the remainder of the flex screen 4a. Alternatively, the flexures 26 may be in a second element that is joined or connected to the stringers.

[0069] As an alternative to the flex hinge of flexures 26, a true mechanical swivel or hinge may be substituted to provide this hinged connection between adjacent stringers while also resisting accordioning in the manner previously provided. An example of such a mechanical hinge includes a conventional hinge knuckle and hinge pin arrangement that provide a swivel about a longitudinal axis. Such a hinge may provide even less resistance to flexing than the flexures 26.

[0070] As shown in FIGS. 2a-i, flex screen 4a also includes openings 30 therethrough that are laterally bounded between adjacent stringers 20 and have a lateral opening width 32. Openings 30 are longitudinally bounded between bridges 22 and / or flexures 26 as shown. It is preferable that the opening width 32 be large enough to allow a significant amount of light and / or air to pass through the flex screen 4a. As such, it is preferable that the opening width 32 be equal to or greater than the thickness 34 of the adjoining stringers 20. It is more preferable that the opening width 32 be equal to or greater than twice the thickness 34. It is still more preferable that the opening width 32 be equal to or greater than three times the thickness 34. It may also be preferable that the opening width 32 be equal to or greater than the lateral stringer width 33 of the stringer 20.

[0071] An exemplary method of producing the flex panel 4a may include a fabrication process that starts with a solid panel of material having a thickness corresponding to stringer thickness 34 and with lateral and longitudinal dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the flattened flex screen 4a. The starting solid panel may be of a variety of materials that are commonly available in sheet form, including plywood, metal sheet, plastic panel, among others. For furniture applications plywood may be a preferable panel material. This panel may then be cut through to create openings 30 by any of the aforementioned cutting method examples. This may be optionally achieved through automated methods such as CNC routing and / or laser cutting among other methods. The lateral width 32 of openings 30 are commonly wider than the kerf of the cutting method. Due to its generous lateral width 32, the opening is commonly produced by a profile cut produced by the cutter associated with the cutting method. In other words, the cutter commonly cuts along the perimeter of opening 30, doubling back to make two (or more) longitudinal passes to create each opening such that the lateral width 32 is greater than the width of the kerf of the cutting method. As such, the lateral width 32 may be greater than the thickness of the saw blade or the diameter of the router bit, etc.

[0072] The panel may also be milled to reduce thickness in strategic regions to optionally create flexures 26. Alternatively, these optional flexures 26 may be separately formed and then joined to the flex panel 4a, either as individual flexures 26 or as a continuous strip to create multiple flexures 26. Examples of such separately formed flexures 26 are described in FIGS. 3a-b and 4a-b. Optional handles 24a and 24b may be connected to, or otherwise incorporated with, the flex screen 4a as shown. Bridges 22 may be the same thickness as stringers 20.

[0073] An example where the flexures corresponding to flexures 26 are in a second element is shown in the flex screen 27 shown in FIGS. 3a-b. As shown in FIG. 3a, the stringers 68 may be initially formed without the flexures 26, leaving lateral gaps 31 therebetween at their longitudinally distal ends 93. Gaps 31 are shown here to correspond to lateral opening width 32 of FIGS. 2a-j, although gaps 31 may alternatively be wider or narrower than lateral opening width 32. The stringers 68 are identical to stringers 20 with the exception that they include slots 36 of thickness 35 in their longitudinally distal ends 93 to receive a spline 38 having a thickness 69 that corresponds to thickness 35. As shown in FIG. 3b, the spline 38 is inserted in direction 37 within slots 36. The spline 38 is preferably laterally continuous to span laterally between all of the stringers 68 and their associated slots 36. The portion of the spline 38 that spans laterally between adjacent stringers 68 serves as a flexure 67 as described hereinabove referring to flexure 26. The spline 38 may be glued or otherwise joined to the stringers 68 within the slots 36. The thickness 69 of spline 38 is thinner than thickness 70 of the stringers 68 and permits flexing between adjacent stringers 68 in the flex direction 19 while also resisting lateral displacement therebetween. The spline 38 may also be of a different material than the remainder of the flex screen 4a and this material may be optimized for such flexure. For example, the stringers 68 may be made of plywood, while the spline 38 may be made of a resilient plastic or of metallic material. Alternatively, the spline may be made of hardwood, preferably having the grain oriented along the lateral direction 16.

[0074] The embodiment of FIGS. 4a-b describes an alternate arrangement for creating the function of flexures 26. Flex panel 50 is of similar arrangement to flex panel 4a and includes a lateral row of adjacent stringers 52, with openings 53 therebetween. Stringers 52 are similar to stringers 20, except that they each include tabs 54a and 54b incorporated therein, with each tab 54a and 54b including respective edges 56a and 56b. Tabs 54a and 54b flare laterally outwardly from the main body of each stringer 52 such that edges 56a and 56b of adjacent stringers are proximal to each other with a reduced gap 57 therebetween. Gap 57 is shown to have a narrower lateral width than the width 55 of openings 53. Tabs 54a and 54b are preferably longitudinally aligned with each other and are preferably positioned toward the longitudinal terminus 61 of the stringers 52.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 4a, strap 58 extends laterally with a longitudinal width 59 and is made of a generally thin and flexible material such as a woven fabric or polymer strip. Next, as shown in FIG. 4b, strap 58 is joined, by adhesive or other means, in direction 64 to the flex screen 50 to extend continuously along and overlying the tabs 56a and 56b of stringers 52. Strap 58 spans across gaps 57 as shown, thereby connecting the adjacent stringers 52 to each other. Strap 58 is flexible and serves as a flex hinge between adjacent edges 56a and 56b, permitting hinged movement between adjacent stringers 52 in a manner similar to flexures 26.

[0076] The strap 58 may be of fabric material that may be easily buckled when laterally compressed in directions 63a and 63b and may be very strong and resistant to deflection when laterally stretched in directions 62a and 62b. Thus, the strap 58 serves to resist accordioning of the flex screen 50 when it is laterally outwardly stretched in directions 62a and 62b. Furthermore, it may be preferred that gap 57 be very small, providing the minimum lateral dimension required for hinged displacement at adjacent edges 56a and 56b. Thus, when the flex screen 50 is laterally inwardly compressed in directions 63a and 63b, the stringers 52 will flex a minute amount to allow the gap 57 to quickly close such that adjacent edges 56a and 56b will abut each other, thereby limiting accordioning of the flex screen 50 when it is laterally inwardly compressed in directions 63a and 63b. Thus, it may be seen that the arrangement of FIGS. 4a-b serves to resist accordioning of the flex screen 50, while also permitting flexure in the flex direction. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4a-b, the strap 58 is longitudinally offset by distance 65 from the longitudinal terminus' 61. Alternatively, the strap may be longitudinally coincident with the longitudinal terminus' 61.

[0077] While the strap 58 is shown to be joined to the portion of the stringers 52 that include tabs 54a and 54b, it is envisioned that the strap may alternatively be joined to portion(s) of the stringers 52 that are longitudinally offset from the tabs 54a and 54b. It is also envisioned that the strap 58 may alternatively be utilized in conjunction with stringers that do not have tabs 54a and 54b.

[0078] The embodiment of FIG. 5 is provided to show an example of the broad range of potential geometry and form that the stringers, bridges, and openings may employ. Flex screen 80 includes stringers 82, bridges 84, openings 86, and flexures 88 that function in a similar manner to their namesake elements of flex screen 4a.

[0079] While the embodiment of FIGS. 4a-j show stringers 20 to have a generally uniform width 33, the stringers 82 have a variable width to include a portion thereof having width 90b that is shown to be narrower than other portions having widths 90a and 90c. While stringers 20 are shown to extend in a purely longitudinal direction 17, stringers 82 extend generally along a stringer axis 83 that has a bias angle 85 from the longitudinal bending axis 91, such that stringer axis 83 extends to have both lateral and longitudinal directional components. The stringer axis may alternatively have other orientations as well, including arcuate orientations and laterally stepped / jogged orientations. While openings 30 of FIGS. 2a-j are shown with straight longitudinal sides to have a generally uniform lateral width 32, openings 86 are shown to have an elliptical shape with arcuate sides and correspondingly have a variable lateral width, including a portion thereof having width 87b that is wider than other portions having widths 87a and 87c.

[0080] It may be seen that the flex screen of the present invention may utilize a wide variety of alternative geometries that may serve to provide enhancement to the flex characteristic of the flex screen and / or may also provide an alternative aesthetic appearance as well. For example, due to the bias angle 85 of stringer axis 83, when the flex screen 80 is flexed about a longitudinal flex axis 91 in a manner similar to that described in FIGS. 2a-j, stringers 82 may flex and warp in both a twisting / torsional deflection (as described in FIGS. 2a-j) and in a bending deflection. Because the bias angle is very small, the bending portion of deflection will be very slight, with the majority portion of deflection being torsional deflection.

[0081] FIG. 6a shows a cabinet 101 of the present invention, serving as a piece of furniture and including shelves 108a and 108b and flex screens 104a and 104b. Shelf 108b has a circumferential groove 6b that extends along and adjacent its perimeter as shown. The groove 6b is open in an upwardly facing direction to receive the flex screen 104b. Shelf 108a has a circumferential groove 106a (obscured) that extends along and adjacent its perimeter. The groove 106a (obscured) is open in a downwardly facing direction and is mirrored to groove 106b to receive the flex screen 104b. It may be seen that grooves 6a and 6b have a circular arcuate shape to correspondingly guide the flex screen 104b upon assembly and to clearly illustrate the flexing of flex screen 104b.

[0082] Shelf 108b has a series of pockets 110b that are distributed in a circular pattern adjacent the circular perimeter of shelf 108b as shown. The pockets 110b are open in an upwardly facing direction to receive tabs 105b of flex screen 104a. Shelf 108a similarly has a series of pockets 110a (obscured) that are distributed in a circular pattern adjacent the circular perimeter of shelf 108a as shown. The pockets 110a are open in a downwardly facing direction to receive tabs 105a of flex screen 104a. Shelf 108b has internally threaded holes 107a-c to receive the respective threaded ends 101a-c of screws 102a-c respectively. Shelf 108a includes clearance holes 109a-c that are aligned with respective threaded holes 107a-c to receive the respective threaded ends 101a-c of screws 102a-c respectively.

[0083] Flex screen 104a is shown in FIG. 6a in a flexed orientation such that its upper perimeter edge 112a and tabs 105a are aligned with pockets 110a and its lower perimeter edge 114a and tabs 105a are aligned with pockets 110b. Flex screen 104a is mounted in cabinet 101 to serve as a static screen and a longitudinal spacer between shelves 108a and 108b.

[0084] Flex screen 104b is shown to be flexed such that its upper perimeter edge 112b corresponds to the contours of groove 106a and its lower perimeter edge 114b corresponds to the contours of groove 106b. Flex screen 104b is mounted in cabinet 101 to serve as a door that is circumferentially slidable within grooves 106a and 106b.

[0085] Screws 102a-c include respective heads 116a-c, shanks 117a-c, and external threads 118a-c in a conventional screw arrangement. Shanks 117a-c are aligned to pass through respective holes 109a-c, such that threads 118a-c threadably mate with internally threaded holes 107a-c respectively.

[0086] FIG. 6b shows the flex screens 104a and 104b as assembled to the shelves 108a and 108b as shown. Tabs 105a are longitudinally overlapping and nested within pockets 110a while tabs 105b are longitudinally overlapping and nested within pockets 110b. Similarly, perimeter edge 112b is longitudinally overlapping and positioned within groove 106a while perimeter edge 114b is longitudinally overlapping and positioned within groove 106b. Screws 102a-c extend through respective holes 109a-c and are threadably assembled to holes 107a-c respectively.

[0087] When this threadable assembly is tightened, screws 102a-c serve to longitudinally draw and bind shelves 108a and 108b toward each other until tabs 105a longitudinally abut their respective pockets 110a and tabs 105b longitudinally abut their respective pockets 110b. Thus, flex screen 104a is longitudinally sandwiched between shelves 108a and 108b in a longitudinally abutting stackup. As such, flex screen 104a also serves as a spacer to control and limit the longitudinal space 115 between shelves 108a and 108b and to maintain the nested engagement between tabs 105a and pockets 110a and to maintain the longitudinally overlapping engagement between upper perimeter edge 112b and groove 106a, and the longitudinally overlapping engagement between lower perimeter edge 114b and groove 106b. It is preferred that the radial width and longitudinal depth of grooves 106a and 106b be controlled such that there is sufficient radial and longitudinal clearance with the mating perimeter edges 112b and 114b to allow the flex screen 104b to laterally and slidably glided within grooves 106a and 106b without binding and in a manner similar to a conventional tambour arrangement. Thus, grooves 106a and 106b serve as tracks provide slidable guiding for the mating perimeter edges 112b and 114b such that the flex screen 104b may serve as a sliding door to selectively allow access to the interior of the cabinet 101. As flex screen 104b is laterally displaced and glided within grooves 106a and 106b it will follow the curvature of grooves 106a and 106b. It may be seen that grooves 106a and 106b serve to retain flex screen 104b and limit its displacement in both their longitudinal and thickness directions, while permitting displacement in the lateral direction.

[0088] The direction conventions of FIGS. 6a-g are identical to those used to describe the embodiment of FIGS. 2a-j. A laterally inward or inboard orientation is proximal the lateral midpoint of the flex screen and distal the lateral perimeter edge, while a laterally outward or outboard orientation is distal this lateral midpoint and proximal the lateral perimeter edge. A longitudinally inward or inboard orientation is distal the corresponding upper or lower perimeter edge and proximal to a longitudinal midpoint of the flex screen, while a longitudinally outward or outboard orientation is proximal to the longitudinal midpoint and distal the upper or lower perimeter edge.

[0089] Since cabinet 101 has a generally circular cylindrical form as shown in FIG. 6b, with shelves 108a-b and (flexed) screens 104a-b having a circular form as shown in FIG. 6b, the lateral direction 16 corresponds to a generally circumferential circular direction 119 and the thickness direction 18 corresponds to a generally radial direction 121. It is noted that flex screens 104a and 104b are shown to be oriented vertically such that the longitudinal direction 17 and flex axis 23 are vertical. This allows the flex screen 104a to support vertical shelving loads of items placed on shelves 108a and / or 108b. This also allows the flex screen 104b to serve as a vertically oriented sliding door to slidably adjust the circumferential overlap between flex screens 104a and 104b, to correspondingly adjust the circumferential opening between lateral perimeter edges 113a and 113b between a fully open position and the fully closed position shown in FIG. 6b.

[0090] FIG. 6d shows an exemplary solid panel 140 that may be formed to produce the flex screen 104a. As also described hereinabove, it is anticipated that the flex screens 104a and 104b may be formed from a solid flat panel such as panel 140. Panel 140 has a lateral dimension 196a′ that is equal to or greater than overall lateral width 196a and a longitudinal dimension 197a′ that is equal to or greater than overall longitudinal length 197a′ and a thickness 134′ that is equal or greater than thickness 134. Panel 140 may be formed from any of a variety of materials, including plywood panel, metal plate, polymer panel, among others. Panel 140 is then cut by a variety of means such as slicing, shearing, machining, among others, to remove material and to thereby create the general profile of the flex screen 104a. It is preferred that the thickness 134′ is equal to the thickness 134 so that the above cutting process is a simple through-cutting process where the panel 140 is profile-cut through its thickness to create stringers 120 and bridges 122. This preferably minimizes any further machining or material removal processes required.

[0091] FIG. 6e shows the flex screen 104a as profile-cut from panel 140 and in a flattened configuration prior its flexed assembly within shelves 108a and 108b to have an overall lateral width 196a and an overall longitudinal length 197a between upper perimeter edge 112a and lower perimeter edge 114a. The flex screen 104a comprises a lattice of stringers 120 that each extend and span generally longitudinally between respective upper bridges 122a and / or lower bridges 122b. Upper bridge 122a is shown to be longitudinally adjacent the upper perimeter edge 112a and the lower bridge 122b is shown to be longitudinally adjacent the lower perimeter edge 114a. Laterally adjacent stringers 120 are connected to each other through the upper bridges 122a and / or lower bridges 122b from which they extend. The perimeter of the flex screen 104a is bounded by upper perimeter edge 112a, lower perimeter edge 114a, and lateral perimeter edges 113a and 113b. Upper bridges 122a include tabs 105a extending longitudinally outwardly therefrom, while lower bridges 122b include tabs 105b extending longitudinally outwardly therefrom. Tabs 105a and 105b are each laterally flanked by shoulders 111. Upper bridges 122a are longitudinally adjacent the upper perimeter edge 112a and lower bridges 122a are longitudinally adjacent the lower perimeter edge 114a. Openings 130 are laterally bounded between adjacent stringers 120. These openings 130 may be considered “gap openings” because they have a gap where they intersect the upper perimeter edge 112a at entrance 124a or lower perimeter edge 114a at entrance 124b, such that they are longitudinally bounded by only a single bridge 122a or 122b and respective open entrances 124b and 124a.

[0092] In contrast to the screen 4a of the embodiment of FIGS. 2a-j, which shows multiple tiers of longitudinally stacked stringers 20, with bridges 22 therebetween, the screen 104a includes only a single longitudinal tier of stringers 120. With screen 104a, the full complement of stringers 120 are laterally adjacent each other and are not longitudinally stacked. The bridges 122a are longitudinally adjacent the upper perimeter edge 112a and bridges 122b are longitudinally adjacent the lower perimeter edge 114a.

[0093] It is noted that the perimeter profile of stringers 120 have a tangential arcuate blend with the perimeter of their associated bridges 122a and 122b to form a generally continuous curvilinear form such as the serpentine wave form shown in the plan view of FIG. 6e. Bridges 122a and 122b include concave inner perimeter curves 144a and convex outer perimeter curves 144b to define an arcuate profile as shown. This continuous curvilinear form provides a unique and beneficial aesthetic appearance. This is particularly shown in FIG. 6b where the stringers 120 and bridges 22a and 122b visually blend to form the serpentine wave between shelves 108a and 108b. Such a tangential blend may be arranged a variety of curvilinear wave forms, such as a sine wave form, among others, including irregular or inconsistent wave forms.

[0094] Stringers 120 are shown to have a thickness 134 and a lateral width 133. It may be preferable to initially form the flex screen 104a in this flattened configuration and then flex the flex screen 104a in the flex direction 19 about flex axis 23 as shown in FIG. 6a for assembly shelves 8a and 8b as described hereinabove.

[0095] As detailed in FIGS. 6f-g, the flex screen 104b is identical to the flex screen 104a, with the exception that flex screen 104b additionally includes flexures 126 spanning laterally between the tabs 105a′ of laterally adjacent upper bridges 122a′ and between the tabs 105b′ of laterally adjacent lower bridges 122b′. Screen 104b excludes shoulders 111, as they are not necessary. Flexures 126 have identical function to flexures 26 as described hereinabove and may correspondingly have similar material, geometry, arrangement, and / or features as described in FIGS. 2a-j, 3a-b, 4a-b, and 5. It is understood that stringers 120′ are connected to bridges 122a′ and / or 122b′ and that tabs 105a′ and 105b′ are connected to respective bridges 122a′ and 122b′. Flexures 126 are shown in FIGS. 6f-g to span and traverse between laterally adjacent tabs 105a′ or 105b′, which may be considered as connected extensions of laterally adjacent stringers 120′. Such flexures may alternatively span between laterally adjacent bridges (122a′ or 122b′) or laterally adjacent stringers 120′ or any combination thereof.

[0096] The openings 130′ all longitudinally intersect the upper perimeter edge 112a or lower perimeter edge 114a and may be considered “gap openings” in that they are longitudinally bound by only a single bridge 122a or 122b. Openings 130′ have an entrance 124′ adjacent the upper perimeter edge 112b or lower perimeter edge 114b, where a flexure 126 traverses laterally across this entrance 124′ such that openings 130′ are longitudinally bounded by a single bridge (122a′ or 122b′) and a flexure 26.

[0097] The interaction and geometric considerations between screen 104b and grooves 106a and 106b is correspondingly identical to the interaction between screen 4a and grooves 6a and 6b as described in FIGS. 2a-j. When the flex screens 104a and 104b are flexed in the flex direction 19, the corresponding stringers 120 will torsionally twist and deflect in a manner similar to that described in FIGS. 2a-j. Flex screens 104a and 104b include respective openings 130 and 130′ between respective laterally adjacent stringers 120 and 120′. It is preferable that these openings 130 and 130′ are similarly configured to provide similar benefit to the openings 30 of FIGS. 2a-j. While flexures 126 are shown to span between laterally adjacent tabs 105a′ and between laterally adjacent tabs 105b′, flexures may alternatively span between any combination of tabs, bridges, and stringers. While flexures 126 are shown to be longitudinally aligned with their respective upper perimeter edge 112b and lower perimeter edge 114b, flexures may alternatively be longitudinally inwardly offset from their respective upper perimeter edge 112b and lower perimeter edge 114b.

[0098] FIG. 6h describes a flex screen 104c that may be substituted for flex screen 104b in the assembly described in FIGS. 6a and 6b. Screen 104c includes stringers 120″, bridges 122a″ and 122b″, tabs 105a″ and 105b″, and openings 130″, and is identical to screen 104b in all respects with the exception that it excludes flexures 126. In comparison with flex screen 104b, laterally adjacent tabs 105b″ are laterally connected to each other by associated bridge 122a″ therebetween, which is longitudinally spaced therefrom by cantilever distance 138b. Similarly, laterally adjacent tabs 105a″ are laterally connected to each other by associated bridge 122b″ therebetween, which is longitudinally spaced therefrom by cantilever distance 138a. Cantilever distances 138a and 138b correspond to a relatively large cantilever of the stringers 120″, which may result in increased longitudinal deflection of stringers 120″, and which may contribute to a degree of lateral flex and “accordioning” of flex screen 104c. In other words, flex screen 104c may still be utilized as a sliding door, but since it excludes flexures 126, it may potentially exhibit a greater degree of “accordioning” as described hereinabove. However, the degree of accordioning may be minimal such that the screen 104c may still be functional to serve as a door that is circumferentially slidable within grooves 106a and 106b.

[0099] Openings 130″ are laterally bounded between adjacent stringers 120″. These openings 130″ may be considered “gap openings” because they have a gap where they intersect the upper perimeter edge 112c at entrance 124a″ or lower perimeter edge 114c at entrance 124b″, such that they are longitudinally bounded by only a single bridge 122a or 122b and respective open entrances 124b″ and 124a″. As such, stringers 120″ connected to bridge 122a″ are cantilevered therefrom and laterally unsupported at entrance 124b″. Similarly, stringers 120″ connected to bridge 122b″ are cantilevered therefrom and laterally unsupported at entrance 124a″.

[0100] In comparison with the flex screen 104c, the flexures 126 of flex screen 104b serve to span and traverse the openings 130′ at a location longitudinally proximal the upper perimeter edge 112b or lower perimeter edge 114b. This longitudinally proximal support may serve to laterally brace the stringers 120′ and appreciably reduce the cantilever flex and deflection at entrances 124′ and thereby reducing any accordioning of flex screen 104b.

[0101] FIG. 6i describes an alternative arrangement, with string and beads that serve a similar anti-accordioning function to flexures 126. Screen 104d includes tabs 105a″′ and 105b″′, bridges 122a″′, 122b″′, stringers 120″′. In addition, screen 104d includes hole(s) 150a extending laterally through tab 105a″′ and hole 150b extending laterally through tab 105b″′. Screen 104d further includes spacer beads 154, which include lateral holes 156 therethrough, and strings 152a and 152b. As shown in FIG. 6i, spacer beads are positioned laterally between laterally adjacent tabs 105a″′ and 105b″′, with string 152a threaded through holes 150a and 156 and through holes 150b and 156 as shown. String 152a and 152b are anchored to respective holes 150a, 150b, 156 or to a location elsewhere on the flex screen 104d such that the lateral displacement between strings 152a / 152b and flex screen 104d is limited.

[0102] Strings 152a / 152b are preferably of the conventional variety and exhibit high tensile strength and high pliability and may otherwise be considered as a linear tensile element. There is preferably a slight lateral gap 156 between the spacer beads 154 and their respective laterally adjacent tabs 105a″′ and 105b″′. It is understood that stringers 120″′ are connected to bridges 122a″′ and / or 122b″′ and that tabs 105a″′ and 105b″′ are connected to respective bridges 122a″40 and 122b″′. Spacer beads 154 and strings (152a and 152b) are shown in FIG. 6i to span and traverse between laterally adjacent tabs 105a″′ or 105b″′, which may be considered as connected extensions of laterally adjacent stringers 120″′. Such Spacer beads 154 and strings (152a and 152b) may alternatively span between laterally adjacent bridges (122a″′ or 122b″′) or laterally adjacent stringers 120″′ or any combination thereof.

[0103] With spacer beads 154 positioned between laterally adjacent tabs 105b, any laterally proximal (compressive) defection between these adjacent tabs 105b will simply cause the gaps 156 to be closed such that tabs 105b will laterally abut the spacer bead 154, thus limiting further any laterally proximal (compressive) defection. With string 152b extending between tabs 105b″′ and spacer bead 154 and anchored to the flex screen 104d, any laterally distal (tensile stretching) defection between these adjacent tabs 105b will simply be restricted by the tensile pulling strength of the string, thus limiting further any laterally distal (tensile stretching) defection. Further, the pliability of the strings 152b and the slight gaps 156 allows the pliable string 152b to serve as a hinge to permit hinged displacement 158 between spacer bead 154 and its laterally adjacent tab 105b in a similar manner to that of a common string of beads. This arrangement and function is identical with the string 152a, tabs 105a″′ and spacer bead 154. Thus, it may be seen that this hinged arrangement allows the flex screen 104d to freely flex in the flex direction 19 about flex axis 23. The lateral abutment between spacer beads 154 and mating tabs (105a″′ or 105b″′) serve to limit and / or restrict accordioning in the laterally inward (compressive) direction, while strings 152a and 152b serve to laterally bind respective tabs 105a″′ and 105b″′ to limit and / or restrict accordioning in the laterally outward (extensive and tensile stretching) direction.

[0104] Spacer beads 154 may be rigid elements that do not flex in the flex direction 19 or they may be made of a flexible material, such as elastomer, that permits a certain degree of flexure in the flex direction 19. While FIG. 6i is a partial view, it is preferred that a full complement of spacer beads 154, tabs 105a″′ and string 152a extend along the entirety of the upper perimeter edge 112d and that a full complement of spacer beads 154, tabs 105b″′ and string 152b extend along the entirety of the upper perimeter edge 114d.

[0105] The openings 130″′ longitudinally intersect the upper perimeter edge 112d or lower perimeter edge 114d and may be considered “gap openings” in that they are longitudinally bound by only a single bridge 122a″′ or 122b″′. Openings 130″′ have an entrance 124″′ adjacent the upper perimeter edge 112d or lower perimeter edge 114d, where a spacer beads 154 and corresponding string (152a or 152b) traverses laterally across this entrance 124″′ such that openings 130″′ are longitudinally bounded by a single bridge (122a′ or 122b′) and a spacer bead 154 and corresponding string (152a or 152b).

[0106] While my above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but as merely providing exemplary illustrations of some of the preferred embodiments of this invention. For example:

[0107] The flex panel 4a is shown to have stringers 20 and bridges 22 of generally uniform thickness. These stringers 20 and bridges 22 may alternatively be of different thicknesses. Further, the stringers 20 and bridges 22 may themselves be contoured to have varying thicknesses.

[0108] The figures show the flex screens to be oriented with a flex axis and longitudinal direction to be oriented generally vertical. It is understood that this is a representative orientation. The flex screen(s) may be utilized to have any orientation in space. Any terms such as “upper” or “lower” are simply relative terms and do not necessarily imply a vertical orientation. For example, the longitudinal direction and flex axis may be aligned horizontally. In such a case the sliding door of flex screen 104b may be configured as a sliding lid.

[0109] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to be merely illustrative of the best modes of carrying out the invention, and which are susceptible of modification of form, size, arrangement of parts and details of operation. The invention rather is intended to encompass all such modifications that are within its spirit and scope as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A flex screen including:a lateral screen width along a lateral direction, a longitudinal screen length along a longitudinal direction, a screen thickness along a thickness direction; a first perimeter edge along said lateral width and a second perimeter edge longitudinally opposed and spaced from said first perimeter edge;a plurality of elongated stringers, with each stringer extending along a generally longitudinal stringer axis, including a first stringer and a second stringer laterally spaced from said first stringer;an opening laterally positioned between said first stringer and said second stringer, said opening having a longitudinal opening length and a lateral opening width;a bridge serving to span between and to connect the longitudinal terminus of said first stringer to the longitudinal terminus of said second stringer;wherein said opening is laterally bounded between said first stringer and said second stringer and is longitudinally bounded by said bridge;wherein said flex screen may be elastically flexed in a flex direction about a flex axis to a flexed orientation;wherein said elastic flex includes the torsional deflection of at least one of said first stringer and said second stringer;wherein the lateral width of said first opening is greater than the thickness of at least one of said first stringer and said second stringer.

2. The flex screen according to claim 1, including a furniture element extending in said thickness direction, wherein at least a portion of at least one of said first perimeter edge and said second perimeter edge is supported by said furniture element, wherein said furniture element includes a longitudinally extending cavity such that at least a portion of one of said first perimeter edge and said second perimeter edge is positioned within said cavity to longitudinally overlap said cavity and to maintain said flex screen in said flexed orientation.

3. The flex screen according to claim 2, wherein said cavity is a pocket and one of said first perimeter edge and said second perimeter edge includes a tab, wherein said tab is positioned within said pocket to longitudinally overlap said pocket.

4. The flex screen according to claim 2, wherein said cavity is a laterally extending track groove and at least a portion of a mating one of said first perimeter edge and said second perimeter edge is positioned within said track groove such that said one of said first perimeter edge and said second perimeter edge longitudinally overlaps said track groove.

5. The flex screen according to claim 4, wherein the lateral length of said track groove is longer than the lateral length of said mating one of said first perimeter edge and said second perimeter edge, such that said flex screen may be slidably laterally displaced within said track groove.

6. The flex screen according to claim 2, wherein said furniture element is a first furniture element, including a second furniture element longitudinally offset from said first furniture element, wherein said flex screen is longitudinally sandwiched between said first furniture element and said second furniture element in a longitudinally abutting engagement to limit the longitudinal displacement between said first furniture element and said second furniture element.

7. The flex screen according to claim 6, wherein said flex screen is longitudinally compressed between said first furniture element and said second furniture element.

8. The flex screen according to claim 2, wherein said furniture element is a first furniture element, including a second furniture element longitudinally offset from said first furniture element, wherein said flex screen is captured between said first furniture element and said second furniture element to limit displacement between said flex screen and at least one of said first and second furniture elements in said thickness direction and said longitudinal direction.

9. The flex screen according to claim 8, including clearance between said flex screen and both said first furniture element and said second furniture element to permit displacement of said flex screen in said lateral direction relative to both said first furniture element and said second furniture element.

10. The flex screen according to claim 1, wherein said bridge is a first bridge, including a second bridge longitudinally spaced from said first bridge, including said stringer spanning longitudinally therebetween, wherein said first bridge is longitudinally adjacent said first perimeter edge and said second bridge is longitudinally adjacent said second perimeter edge.

11. The flex screen according to claim 1, including a continuous arcuate profile blend between said bridge and said stringer as viewed in the plan view.

12. The flex screen according to claim 11, including a plurality of said arcuate profile blends between a respective plurality of said bridges and a respective plurality of said stringers, such that said plurality of arcuate profile blends, said bridges, and said stringers combine to form a curvilinear wave form as viewed in the plan view.

13. The flex screen according to claim 1, including a plurality of said openings, wherein the combined area of said openings constitutes an open area of said flex screen, wherein said open area is at least 30% of the area of said flex screen when viewed in the plan view of said flex screen.

14. The flex screen according to claim 1, wherein said opening is a gap opening, wherein said gap opening is bounded by said first stringer, said second stringer, a singular one of said bridge, and a traversing member traversing laterally between said first stringer or a connected extension thereof and said second stringer or a connected extension thereof at a location longitudinally offset from said singular one of said bridge, said traversing member serving to provide resistance to accordioning of said flex screen in at least one of said laterally inwardly direction and said laterally outwardly direction.

15. The flex screen according to claim 14, wherein said traversing member is a flexure, wherein said flexure may be flexed in said thickness direction during flexure of said flex screen about said flex axis while also serving to resist the accordioning of said flex screen in said lateral direction; and wherein at least one of (i) the thickness of said flexure is less than the thickness of at least one of said bridge and said first stringer; and(ii) the flexural modulus of the material of said flexure is less than the flexural modulus of the material of said first stringer.

16. The flex screen according to claim 14, including a plurality of said traversing members to include a first traversing member and a second traversing member, wherein said first traversing member is laterally spaced from said second traversing member, with at least one of said first stringer and said bridge therebetween such that said plurality of said traversing members cooperate to provide said resistance to accordioning.

17. The flex screen according to claim 14, wherein said traversing member is a hinge element traversing laterally between said first stringer and said second stringer, and / or between said first bridge and said second bridge, wherein said hinge element may be articulated to swing in said flex direction during flexure of said flex screen about said flex axis while also serving to resist the accordioning of said flex screen in said lateral direction.

18. The flex screen according to claim 14, wherein said traversing member is a spacer element, wherein said spacer element is laterally sandwiched between said first stringer and said second stringer and / or between said first bridge and said second bridge, wherein said spacer element serves to resist the accordioning of said flex screen in the laterally inwardly direction.

19. The flex screen according to claim 14, wherein said traversing member is a linear tensile element having a first end and a second end, wherein said first and is anchored to said flex screen and said second end is anchored to said flex screen at a location laterally offset from said first end, wherein said linear tensile element serves to resist the accordioning of said flex screen in the laterally outwardly direction.

20. The flex screen according to claim 1, wherein said flex screen is oriented vertically, such that said flex axis is a generally vertically extending axis.

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