Molded screen frame

Claim 1

In a hard, substantially non-compressible plastic molded onepiece rectangular peripheral frame for supporting and retaining a panel, wherein each of the sides of the frame comprises a base portion having an upper face provided with a longitudinal groove extending the full length of the respective frame side and parallel thereto, a transverse section through said base being generally U-shaped with a bight defining the bottom of said groove and inner and outer legs defining the sides of said groove; a locking flap portion integral with said base portion and connected thereto by a continuous hinge portion projecting from the upper outer edge of said base outer leg, said flap porting being pivotally movable about said hinge between a first position wherein it exposes said grooved face of said base and a second locking position wherein it overlies said face and the peripheral edges of the panel to clamp the panel therebetween; said flap portion having on its groove-facing surface a longitudinal bead so dimensioned and contoured to compliment and snugly but removably lock in said groove to firmly clamp said base and flap portions in their locked position; the improvement comprising said hinge portion being a thin walled flexible web of sufficient length between the points where it joins said flap and base portions to permit the flap portion to move laterally relative to the base portion a substantial distance when caused so to move, independent of its pivotal movement about said hinge portion; with the parts being so constructed that movement of said flap portion toward its locking position causes said bead to make initial contact with said base inner leg, the interference therebetween causing said flap portion to be cammed by the base inner leg and shifted laterally outwardly toward said base outer leg, to the extent permitted by the yieldable hinge portion, until said bead engages said base outer leg; continued pivoting of said flap portion causing said bead to cam said base outer leg outwardly slightly to temporarily widen the groove for reception of said bead; and continued pivoting of said flap portion causing said bead to snap into its locked position within said groove.