US4708189A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Screen
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1986-01-31
•
Granted: 1987-11-24
•
Expires: 2006-01-31
Abstract
Abstract A screen for extending between two surfaces, for example, a floor and a ceiling, the screen comprising a sheet of flexible material, pairs of optionally interengageable battens and support means, the support means being biased to urge the pairs of battens against the surface retaining the sheet extended between them. If the battens are engaged, they may be pivotable about the means engaging them.
Inventors
- 👤 Alec D. Ward
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 10:42
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B2/00; E04B2/74; E04B2/82; E04B2/821; E04B2/824; E04B2/7407; E04G; E04G21/00; E04G21/24; E04G21/243; E04G21/30; E04G2021/248
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A screen extending between first and second spaced apart surfaces and comprising a sheet of flexible material, at least one pair of rails and at least one support means, each pair of rails having at least one said support means positioned between the rails of each pair and resiliently urging them apart, the sheet of flexible material extending between the surfaces with a first portion of the sheet being retained between the first surface and one rail and a second portion of the sheet being retained between the second surface and the other rail of each pair of rails.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A screen extending between first and second spaced apart surfaces and comprising a sheet of flexible material, at least one pair of rails and at least one support means, each pair of rails having at least one said support means positioned between the rails of each pair and resiliently urging them apart, the sheet of flexible material extending between the surfaces with a first portion of the sheet being retained between the first surface and one rail and a second portion of the sheet being retained between the second surface and the other rail of each pair of rails.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
113 words
A screen extending between first and second spaced apart surfaces and comprising a sheet of flexible material, a plurality of pairs of rails, and support means, each said pair of rails having support means positioned between them and resiliently urging them apart, the sheet of flexible material extending between the surfaces with a first portion of the sheet being retained between the first surface and one rail and a second portion of the sheet being retained between the second surface and the other rail of each said pair of rails, one edge region of the said sheet being formed into a rail-receiving tube provided with apertures through which the said support means pass.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
113 words
A screen extending between first and second spaced apart surfaces and comprising a sheet of flexible material, a plurality of pairs of rails, and support means, each said pair of rails having support means positioned between them and resiliently urging them apart, the sheet of flexible material extending between the surfaces with a first portion of the sheet being retained between the first surface and one rail and a second portion of the sheet being retained between the second surface and the other rail of each said pair of rails, one edge region of the said sheet being formed into a rail-receiving tube provided with apertures through which the said support means pass.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
121 words
A screen extending between first and second spaced apart surfaces and comprising a sheet of flexible material, a plurality of pairs of rails, and support means, each said pair of rails having support means positioned between them and resiliently urging them apart, the sheet of flexible material extending between the surfaces with a first portion of the sheet being retained between the first surface and one rail and a second portion of the sheet being retained between the second surface and the other rail of each said pair of rails, the said rails being in the form of a trough the side walls of which are shaped to provide socket means for receiving and retaining an end of the support means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
121 words
A screen extending between first and second spaced apart surfaces and comprising a sheet of flexible material, a plurality of pairs of rails, and support means, each said pair of rails having support means positioned between them and resiliently urging them apart, the sheet of flexible material extending between the surfaces with a first portion of the sheet being retained between the first surface and one rail and a second portion of the sheet being retained between the second surface and the other rail of each said pair of rails, the said rails being in the form of a trough the side walls of which are shaped to provide socket means for receiving and retaining an end of the support means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
116 words
A screen extending between first and second spaced apart surfaces and comprising a sheet of flexible material, a plurality of pairs of rails, and support means, each said pair of rails having support means positioned between them and resiliently urging them apart, the sheet of flexible material extending between the surfaces with a first portion of the sheet being retained between the first surface and one rail and a second portion of the sheet being retained between the second surface and the other rail of each said pair of rails, the rails retaining the sheet between them and at least one surface being pivotally interengaged to allow pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
116 words
A screen extending between first and second spaced apart surfaces and comprising a sheet of flexible material, a plurality of pairs of rails, and support means, each said pair of rails having support means positioned between them and resiliently urging them apart, the sheet of flexible material extending between the surfaces with a first portion of the sheet being retained between the first surface and one rail and a second portion of the sheet being retained between the second surface and the other rail of each said pair of rails, the rails retaining the sheet between them and at least one surface being pivotally interengaged to allow pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
A screen extending between spaced apart surfaces and comprising a sheet of flexible material, at least two interengaged rails and at least two support means each resiliently urging a rail toward a surface, the sheet of flexible material extending between the surfaces with a first portion of the sheet being retained between a first surface and the rails and a second portion of the sheet being retained between a second surface and the support means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
A screen extending between spaced apart surfaces and comprising a sheet of flexible material, at least two interengaged rails and at least two support means each resiliently urging a rail toward a surface, the sheet of flexible material extending between the surfaces with a first portion of the sheet being retained between a first surface and the rails and a second portion of the sheet being retained between a second surface and the support means.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of installing a screen, which comprises positioning a first edge region of a flexible sheet between first rails and a first surface, positioning support means to engage the first rails and a second surface and causing the support means to press the first rails toward the first surface to engage the first edge region between the first rails and the first surface, disengaging the support means from the second surface, positioning a second edge region of the sheet and second rails between the second surface and the support means with the second rails between the support means and the second edge region, and causing the support means to press the second rails toward the second surface to engage the sheet therebetween.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of installing a screen, which comprises positioning a first edge region of a flexible sheet between first rails and a first surface, positioning support means to engage the first rails and a second surface and causing the support means to press the first rails toward the first surface to engage the first edge region between the first rails and the first surface, disengaging the support means from the second surface, positioning a second edge region of the sheet and second rails between the second surface and the support means with the second rails between the support means and the second edge region, and causing the support means to press the second rails toward the second surface to engage the sheet therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
129 words
A sheet for use in a screen extending between first and second spaced apart surfaces and comprising a sheet of flexible material, a plurality of pairs of rails, and a plurality of support means, each said pair of rails having support means positioned between them and resiliently urging them apart, the sheet of flexible material extending between the surfaces with a first portion of the sheet being retained between the first surface and one rail and a second portion of the sheet being retained between the second surface and the other rail of each pair of rails, a first edge region of the said sheet being formed into a rail-receiving tubular portion, the tubular portion having spaced apertures therein through which support means may enter to engage a rail.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
129 words
A sheet for use in a screen extending between first and second spaced apart surfaces and comprising a sheet of flexible material, a plurality of pairs of rails, and a plurality of support means, each said pair of rails having support means positioned between them and resiliently urging them apart, the sheet of flexible material extending between the surfaces with a first portion of the sheet being retained between the first surface and one rail and a second portion of the sheet being retained between the second surface and the other rail of each pair of rails, a first edge region of the said sheet being formed into a rail-receiving tubular portion, the tubular portion having spaced apertures therein through which support means may enter to engage a rail.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
A sheet as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tubular portion is formed by bonding along a line parallel to the edge two linear spaced apart zones of the sheet inthe edge region, the bonding being in the form of spot bonds, the spaces between the spot bonds forming the spaced apertures.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
93 words
A screen extending between first and second spaced apart surfaces and comprising a sheet of flexible material, a plurality of pairs of rails, and a plurality of support means, each said pair of rails having support means positioned between them and resiliently urging them apart, the sheet of flexible material extending between the surfaces with a first portion of the sheet being retained between the first surface and one rail and a second portion of the sheet being retained between the second surface and the other rail of each said pair of rails.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
93 words
A screen extending between first and second spaced apart surfaces and comprising a sheet of flexible material, a plurality of pairs of rails, and a plurality of support means, each said pair of rails having support means positioned between them and resiliently urging them apart, the sheet of flexible material extending between the surfaces with a first portion of the sheet being retained between the first surface and one rail and a second portion of the sheet being retained between the second surface and the other rail of each said pair of rails.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of installing a screen, which comprises positioning a first edge region of a flexible sheet between first rails and a first surface, positioning support means to engage the first rails and a second surface and causing the support means to press the first rails toward the first surface to engage the first edge region between the first rails and the first surface, disengaging the support means from the second surface, positioning a second edge region of the sheet and second rails between the second surface and the support means with the second rails between the support means and the second edge region, and causing the support means to press the second rails toward the second surface to engage the sheet therebetween, the first edge region of said sheet being formed into a rail-receiving tubular portion, the tubular portion having spaced apertures therein through which the support means enter to engage the first rails.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of installing a screen, which comprises positioning a first edge region of a flexible sheet between first rails and a first surface, positioning support means to engage the first rails and a second surface and causing the support means to press the first rails toward the first surface to engage the first edge region between the first rails and the first surface, disengaging the support means from the second surface, positioning a second edge region of the sheet and second rails between the second surface and the support means with the second rails between the support means and the second edge region, and causing the support means to press the second rails toward the second surface to engage the sheet therebetween, the first edge region of said sheet being formed into a rail-receiving tubular portion, the tubular portion having spaced apertures therein through which the support means enter to engage the first rails.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
A screen as claimed in claim 1, which comprises a least two said pairs of rails.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A screen as claimed in claim 1, wherein each rail is provided with a socket for receiving an end of the support means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
A screen as claimed in claim 9, having support means comprising length-extending bias means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A screen as claimed in claim 9, wherein the support means comprises at least one pair of telescopically engageable portions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
A screen as claimed in claim 9, wherein the support means is provided between the or at least one pair of engageable portions with means for resiliently urging the portions apart.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
A screen as claimed in claim 10, wherein the means for urging the portions apart is a compression spring.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
A screen as claimed in claim 9, wherein the support means is provided with means for varying its length and maintaining it at a desired length.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A screen as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces are a floor and a ceiling.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-11-23 | 1991-05-25 | 1991-11-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-11-23 | 1995-05-25 | 1995-11-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-11-23 | 1999-05-25 | 1999-11-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |