NL2004306C2

NL2004306C2 - Wire gauze, fly screen, kit of parts, method for manufacturing wire gauze.

Info

Publication number: NL2004306C2
Application number: NL2004306A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Ritske Johannes Leeuwen
Original assignee: Bruynzeel Home Products B V
Priority date: 2010-02-26
Filing date: 2010-02-26
Publication date: 2011-08-30

Description

Title: Wire gauze, fly screen, kit of parts, method for manufacturing wire gauze

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a fly screen for use with a passage opening, such as a door or other passage in a wall for example.

5 Fly screens are commonly known and are usually used to prevent flies and/or other insects from entering a room through an opening of a window or door, while allowing flow of fresh air through the opening. Such fly screens are usually made of wire gauze with a relatively narrow mesh width of e.g. approximately 1 mm - approximately 2 mm to prevent insects or 10 other vermin from getting through. These wire gauzes are usually manufactured by knitting or weaving creating a grid of intersecting wires. Woven material with fixated intersections by coating or other means and/or methods and knitted material form a grid or pattern that may be rather rigid in the plane of the material and may be cut to measure without the 15 risk of fraying at the cut side. Whereas woven material without fixated intersections may entrain the risk of fraying at the cut side thereof when cut to measure.

In order to allow people to pass through the passage opening when the fly screen is positioned therein, the screen may be divided in two or more 20 lamellae or panels that can be pushed aside to create a passage. A drawback thereof is that a split between adjoining panels may provide unwarranted openings or clefts, in particular when adjacent panels and/or lamellae are partially overlapping. For example, when someone has gone through the passage, the panels may not return in a position that fully closes the 25 passage opening and/or a panel or lamella may be taken along with e.g. a shoulder of the person passing through, which may be inconvenient.

2

Thereto, the panels may be provided with weights at the bottom and/or side to force the panels to the closed position. In addition to the weights, or at its’ own, magnetic elements, e.g. a continuous magnetic strip or discrete magnets, may be provided at the side of the split to force adjoining panels to 5 close the intermediate cleft. Another way may be to apply a relatively stiff material for manufacturing the panels, such that the panels return to the closed position due to their own rigidness. Further, when applying relatively rigid grid material and/or with relatively broad panels, it may be difficult to create a sufficiently wide opening, for example at shoulder 10 height, to pass through by pushing the panels aside.

Further, in view of the various dimensions of passage openings such as door openings, it is desirable that the fly screen can be easily cut to the size of the opening, preferably by the user itself.

15 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fly screen that can be cut to measure, while providing a sufficiently wide opening to pass through.

20 According to the invention, this object is achieved by providing a wire gauze according to claim 1. The invention can also be embodied in fly screen according to claim 5. The invention can further be embodied in a kit of parts for a fly screen according to claim 12 or in a method for the manufacture of a wire gauze according to claim 14.

25 A wire gauze for a fly screen, formed by a grid of wires, is provided having a first zone wherein the intersections of the wires are free, and at least one second zone wherein locally the intersections are fixated. The grid of wires can be any pattern, such as a rectangular pattern, hexagonal pattern, honeycomb pattern, etc. In woven material, in particular in woven 30 material that is not fixated, the intersection of crossing wires is free, 3 allowing an angle of the intersection to vary with pressure or force exerted upon the material in the plane of the material. Such free intersections allow a relatively large flexibility in the plane of the material. When for example a panel of this material is pushed aside to create an opening to pass 5 through, the material is relatively flexible and may allow a sufficiently large passage, for example at shoulder height. In known knitted material the intersections are fixated preventing the wires to fray when the material is cut at the sides. Alternatively, in known woven material the intersections may be sealed, thereby fixating all intersections of the wires of the woven 10 material, thereby reducing the flexibility of the material in the plane of the material.

When a wire gauze has free intersections, alike woven not fixated material, at the first zone, the region where it is to be pushed aside in order to allow passage through a fly screen and the wire gauze has fixated 15 intersections, alike knitted material, at the second zone, the region where it is to be cut to measure, a fly screen provided with such a wire gauze is adjustable to the dimensions of an intended passage opening while providing a flexible passage allowing a sufficiently wide opening to pass through. The first zone and the second zone can be of a different material, 20 e.g. the first zone comprising a first material and the second zone comprising a second material. Preferably, the first material comprises a flexible grid with the intersections free, the second material comprises a fixated grid or a material that allows cutting without fraying, e.g. plastic. Also, at the overlap and/or connection of the second material and the first 25 material, some intersections of the first material may become fixated.

Preferably, an opening is sufficiently wide, in particular at approximately shoulder height, when a person of normal length and size can pass through the opening relatively easily, for example without the material ‘hooking’ behind the shoulders.

4

By providing a wire gauze with a first zone with free intersections, the wire gauze is relatively flexible in the first zone. The relatively flexible first zone may allow for example a sufficiently wide opening between panels of a fly screen to pass through. By providing a second zone in the wire gauze 5 with fixated intersections, the wire gauze can be easily cut to measure without fraying in the second zone. By providing the second zone, the wire gauze may be user friendly to cut to measure, in particular for a do-it-yourselver.

Providing the second zone with fixated intersections on a wire gauze 10 having free intersections may be done by e.g. ultrasonic welding, coating, heating, gluing, sealing, or any other means resulting in the wire gauze having a flexible first zone and a non-flexible second zone. In addition, providing the second zone with fixated intersections can be achieved by applying material different from the material of the first zone of the wire 15 gauze, such as a foil or cloth. The foil or cloth can then be attached to the wire gauze by welding, gluing, sewing, etc.

For example, when creating the second zone, when processing the gauze through a machine, care should be taken that the gauze does not slant due to asymmetrical forces and/or the flexibility of the material in the 20 plane of the material due to the free intersections.

By providing a kit of parts, a do-it-yourselver can relatively easy compose its own fly screen. Advantageously, the kit of parts comprises a manual, wherein the manual preferably describes installation guidelines for installing and/or cutting and/or composing the fly screen.

25 Particular embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

Further objects, features, effects and details of the invention are described below.

30 5

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of an example of an embodiment of a fly screen according to the invention; 5 Fig. 2 is an example of an embodiment of a wire gauze according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is a close-up of a grid of intersecting wires of the fly screen of Fig. 1 in suspended position; and

Fig. 4 shows the grid of Fig. 3 in a flexed position.

10 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In Fig. 1 a fly screen 1 is mounted in the door opening 2 of a door frame 3. The fly screen has a split 4 dividing the fly screen 1 in two portions 5, 6. The split 4 allows people to pass through the fly screen 1 in the door opening 2. Each portion 5, 6 is made of a wire gauze 7, Fig. 2. The wire 15 gauze 7 for the fly screen is manufactured by arranging wires 8, Fig. 3, in a grid with a predetermined mesh width 9, in this embodiment by weaving of the wires 8. The mesh width 9 is chosen in accordance with the size of insects or other creatures it is meant to stop. Intersections 10 of the wire gauze 7 thus provided are subsequently treated with ultrasonic welding, 20 such that a first zone 11 is created wherein the intersections 10 are free and a second zone 12 wherein the intersections 10 are fixated. Of course, other techniques for fixating the intersections 10 may also be applied. In an embodiment, the ultrasonic welding is applied to intersections that are aligned in a strip along an outer side 13 of the wire gauze 7. In another 25 embodiment, a piece of foil is attached to the wire gauze creating a second zone wherein the intersections are fixated due to the attachment of the foil. The attachment of the foil can be achieved by welding, gluing, sewing etc. When attached along a side of the wire gauze, the foil, and therewith the 6 second zone, may extend beyond the initial dimensions of the wire gauze. Instead of foil, also cloth or any other suitable material can be applied. The attachment of a material different from the wire gauze allows adjustment of the visual appearance of the fly screen, e.g. by colour or fabric.

5 In addition to the first zone 11 wherein the intersections 10 of the wires 8 are free and the second zone 12, the wire gauze 7 of Fig. 2 has a further second zone 14 wherein intersections 10 of the wires 8 are fixated. These two second zones 12, 14 extend along the sides of the shape of the wire gauze 7, in this case a rectangular shape. Each second zone 12, 14 10 comprises a number of strips 15, 21 of fixated intersections 10 extending parallel to each other.

As mentioned above, the fly screen has two portions 5, 6, which are formed by two panels of wire gauze 7. Each panel has a rectangular shape and may fit one half of the door opening 2. For each panel the wire gauze 7 15 is positioned such that the two second zones 12, 14 extend along a longitudinal side 13 of the panels 5, 6 and along a second side 16 transverse to the longitudinal side 13. The panels 5, 6 are attached to the top and the sides of the door frame 3 with Velcro strips; but other fastening means may also be applied. Also, the panels 5, 6 may be attached to the wall or 20 otherwise to edges of the opening 2 to cover the opening 2. The panels 5, 6 are suspended such that when the panels 5, 6 hang downwards, a closed position of the fly screen 1 is provided. The panels 5, 6 further each comprise magnetic elements along inner sides 19, 20, panel 5 may comprise for example small magnets 17 at inner the side 19 and panel 6 may 25 comprise for example discrete pieces of magnets or metal such as iron 18 susceptible for attraction by the magnets 17 of the other panel 5 at inner side 20. The magnetic magnitude of the magnets 17 may be relatively weak, as they are to be separated apart relatively easily when a person wants to pass through the fly screen 1, but is sufficiently high to close the split 30 between the panels 5, 6 after a person has passed through. The magnetic 7 elements may be magnetic and/or metallic strips or discrete magnetic and/or metallic balls or pins or any other form. The magnetic and/or metallic strips usually extend from approximately the upper side of the panel to approximately the lower side of the panel along approximately the length of 5 the panel.

The dimensions of the panels 5, 6 and therewith the dimensions of the fly screen 1, are adjustable by simply cutting off portions of the second zones 12, 14 of the panels 5, 6. For adjustment of the width, the second zone 12 at the longitudinal side 13 is cut along the strips 15. For adjustment of 10 the length, the second zone 14 at the transverse side 16 is cut along the strips 21. The width of the zones may vary and may depend on the width of the most common door openings. Depending and the number and/or width of the zones, there may be more possibilities for cutting the panel to measure.

15 In this embodiment, of each panel the longitudinal inner side 19, 20 provided with the magnetic element is located opposite to the second zone 12 wherein the intersections 10 of the wires 8 are fixated. In other embodiments, e.g. wherein the magnetic elements are positioned after cutting-to measure of the fly screen 1, the second zone 12 can be located on 20 the inner side 19, 20.

The difference in behavior between the first zone 11 wherein the intersections 10 of the wires 8 are free and the second zones 12, 14 wherein locally the intersections 10 are fixated is illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4. When the panels 5, 6 are in a suspended position, no force is exerted on the 25 material and the wires 8 form a regular grid, Fig. 3. When force is exerted, e.g. when the panels 5, 6 are pushed aside to create a passage, the angles between intersecting wires is changed due the free intersections, resulting in a change of the pattern of the grid of the first zone 11, Fig. 4. Whereas, when force is exerted, in the second zones 12, 14, or at least in the strips 15, 30 21 thereof, the angles between intersecting wires remain the same due the 8 fixated intersections 10, resulting in an unchanged pattern of the grid of the second zones 12, 14. Therefore, the first zone 11 has a greater amount of deformation and flexibility, allowing a wider opening when the panels 5, 6 are pushed aside. Also, when the second zone comprises a second material, 5 preferably the second material is relatively easy to cut.

The fly screen is preferably provided as a kit of parts comprising a fly screen as described above and fastening means for fastening the fly screen to a edges of an opening. In addition a manual may be provided.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in 10 the drawing and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. For example, instead of a rectangular shape of the panels, other shapes such as circular or square can be provided. Or, instead a rectangular wire gauze wherein the second zone 15 with fixated intersections is circular, which can be cut-to-measure for circular openings.

Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood. In this embodiment, the magnetic elements are embodied as discrete magnets along the side of the panel. Of course, the magnetic elements may also 20 comprise a continuous magnetic strip along the side of the panel. Such variants can be effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

Claims

A screen curtain mesh, formed by a grid of threads, comprising: a first zone in which intersections of threads are movable; and at least a second zone in which locally intersections of wires are fixed.

The mesh of claim 1, wherein the fixed intersections in the at least one second zone form one or more lanes locally.

A mesh according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one second zone extends along one side of the mesh. 15

A mesh according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tracks of fixed intersections extend substantially parallel to each other.

A screen curtain provided with a mesh according to any one of the preceding claims. 20

The screen curtain according to claim 5, comprising at least one rectangular mesh panel, wherein the at least one second zone of the mesh extends along a first side of the panel.

A blind curtain as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mesh of the panel comprises a further second zone which extends along a second side of the panel perpendicular to said first side.

8. Screen curtain as claimed in any of the claims 5-7, wherein the dimensions of the panel can be adjusted by means of the at least one second zone.

9. A blind curtain according to any one of claims 5-8, wherein the panel is provided on at least one longitudinal side with at least one magnetic element.

10. A blind curtain as claimed in claim 9, comprising two or more panels, wherein in a closed position of the blind curtain, the at least one magnetic element of one panel connects to the at least one magnetic element of another panel.

11. Screen curtain as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the longitudinal side provided with the at least one magnetic element is opposite the at least one second zone.

12. A screen curtain kit, comprising: a screen curtain according to any one of claims 5-11 and fixing means for fixing the screen curtain to the sides of an opening.

The kit of claim 12, further comprising a manual.

A method for manufacturing a mesh for a screen curtain, comprising: providing a grid of wires with a predetermined mesh size; further comprising: fixing intersections in the grid of wires, such that a first zone is created in which the intersections are movable and a second zone in which the intersections are locally fixed.

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein the fixed intersections extend in one or more tracks.

Method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the fixing of intersections is carried out by ultrasonic welding.