Abstract An improved screen assembly and method of making same employing a frame having an elongated channel or slot extending around the periphery of the opening to be screened. Clips are attached to the screening material and snapped into the longitudinal channel to retain the screening material in the frame. Preferably, the screening material is formed of plastic coated fiberglass or other inextensible, flexible material and preferably the clips are formed of a plastic material having substantial resilience, such as nylon, a polyamide resin sold by E. I. Dupont Company. The clips are provided with integral spring and screening material-engaging portions. Each of these portions provides a part of a means for fastening the clip to the frame. The spring portion resiliently engages the inner surface of the channel (i.e., the surface facing away from the area inclosed by the frame) and thus provides the assembled screen with sufficient resilience to protect the material from destructive forces normal to the screen. The screening material engaging portion of the clip slideably contacts the inner surface of an inwardly projecting lip. This inner surface is substantially parallel to the plane of the screening material, allowing the materialengaging portion of the clip to slide transversely in said channel while retaining the clip in said channel.
A screening assembly comprising: A frame inclosing an area to be screened, said frame having a longitudinal slot therein, the opening of said slot being defined by inwardly and outwardly projecting lips relative to said area, said inwardly projecting lip being wider than said outwardly projecting lip; and a screening material having dimensions greater than the distance between opposite edges of opposed inwardly projecting lips whereby the outer edges of said material can be concealed beneath said inwardly projecting lip; and a plurality of clip means fastened at spaced intervals to marginal areas of said screening material and positioned within said slot to retain the edges of said screening material beneath said inwardly projecting lip, said clip means including a surface for engaging said screening material, and spring means for compressively holding said clip means within said longitudinal slot, said screening material-engaging surface (defines) defining the outer portion of said clip relative to said area, and wherein said spring portion defines the inner portion relative to said area, whereby said spring portion compresses in response to pressure on said screening material and imparts resilience to said screening material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A screening assembly comprising: A frame inclosing an area to be screened, said frame having a longitudinal slot therein, the opening of said slot being defined by inwardly and outwardly projecting lips relative to said area, said inwardly projecting lip being wider than said outwardly projecting lip; and a screening material having dimensions greater than the distance between opposite edges of opposed inwardly projecting lips whereby the outer edges of said material can be concealed beneath said inwardly projecting lip; and a plurality of clip means fastened at spaced intervals to marginal areas of said screening material and positioned within said slot to retain the edges of said screening material beneath said inwardly projecting lip, said clip means including a surface for engaging said screening material, and spring means for compressively holding said clip means within said longitudinal slot, said screening material-engaging surface (defines) defining the outer portion of said clip relative to said area, and wherein said spring portion defines the inner portion relative to said area, whereby said spring portion compresses in response to pressure on said screening material and imparts resilience to said screening material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said screening material-engaging surface includes a plurality of projections, each having a cross-sectional area less than the area of one of the mesh of said screening material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said screening material-engaging surface includes areas for engaging opposite surfaces of said screening material, said areas being connected by a hinge portion whereby said screening material-engaging areas can be pivoted relative to each other to engage opposite surfaces of said screening material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said spring portion is divided into two angularly positioned segments whereby said clip may be inserted at a corner of said frame.