Mobile projection screen

• US 6,870,672 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2003
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reinhold Stumpfl
• Original Assignee: Reinhold Stumpfl
• Inventors: Stumpfl, Reinhold
• Primary Examiner(s): MAHONEY, CHRISTOPHER E
• Application Number:
  US10/460,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20030227675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 359/443, 359/461, 248/465, 248/479, 248/917
• US Class Current: 359/443
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/56 Projection screens
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/58 collapsible, e.g. foldable; of variable area

Abstract

In varying embodiments, the present invention incorporates a combination of structures suitable for providing a lightweight and portable projection surface. In certain embodiments, the present invention includes a frame having four beams connected at the corners, with a collapsible brace at each corner, so that the frame can be collapsed for storage or transport. In certain embodiments, each beam may incorporate one or more collapsible inline braces in order to promote an even more compact profile when collapsed.

Claims

1. A projection screen frame comprising:

a top beam, a bottom beam, and at least one connecting beam connecting the top beam to the bottom beam, each beam connected to each beam adjacent to it by a brace,

each brace comprising

a pivot pin disposed in one of the adjacent beams,

a pivot plate disposed to pivot around the pivot pin,

one or more fasteners connecting the pivot plate to the remaining beam, and

a connecting brace, connecting the adjacent beams.

2. A projection screen frame comprising:

a frame having a top beam, a bottom beam, and two side beams connecting the top beam to the bottom beam, each beam connected to each beam adjacent to it by a corner brace,

each corner brace comprising

a pivot pin disposed in one of the adjacent beams,

a pivot plate disposed to pivot around the pivot pin,

one or more fasteners connecting the pivot plate to the remaining beam, and

a connecting brace connecting the beams at points inside the pivot point;

at least one beam having a pivotable inline brace disposed therein, separating the beam into two adjacent beam portions, the inline brace comprising

a pivot pin disposed in one of the adjacent beam portions,

a pivot plate disposed to pivot around the pivot pin,

one or more fasteners connecting the pivot plates to the remaining beam portion, and

a latch, operable to latch the adjacent beam portions in an inline configuration.

3. A projection screen frame comprising:

a frame having a top beam, a bottom beam, and two side beams connecting the top beam to the bottom beam, each beam connected to each beam adjacent to it by a corner brace,

each corner brace comprising

a pivot pin disposed in one of the adjacent beams,

a pair of pivot plates disposed to pivot around the pivot pin,

one or more fasteners fixing the orientation of the pivot plates to the remaining beam, and

a connecting brace connecting the beams at points inside the pivot point;

at least one beam having a pivotable inline brace disposed therein, separating the beam into two adjacent beam portions, the inline brace comprising

a pivot pin disposed in one of the adjacent beam portions,

a pair of pivot plates disposed to pivot around the pivot pin,

one or more fasteners fixing the orientation of the pivot plates to the remaining beam portion, and

a latch, operable to latch the adjacent beam portions in an inline configuration.

4. A projection screen frame comprising:

a frame having a top beam, a bottom beam, and two side beams connecting the top beam to the bottom beam, each beam connected to each beam adjacent to it by a corner brace,

each corner brace comprising

a pivot pin disposed in one of the adjacent beams,

a pair of pivot plates disposed to pivot around the pivot pin,

one or more fasteners fixing the orientation of the pivot plates to the remaining beam, and

a connecting brace connecting the beams at points inside the pivot point;

each beam having at least one pivotable inline brace disposed therein, separating the beam into two adjacent beam portions, the inline brace comprising

a pivot pin disposed in one of the adjacent beam portions,

a pair of pivot plates disposed to pivot around the pivot pin,

one or more fasteners fixing the orientation of the pivot plates to the remaining beam portion, and

a latch, operable to latch the adjacent beam portions in an inline configuration.

5. The projection screen frame of claim 4 wherein the beam portions comprise a substantially-rectangular cross-section.

6. The projection screen frame of claim 5 wherein the major dimension of the substantially-rectangular cross-section is approximately 64 mm.

7. The projection screen frame of claim 5 wherein the minor dimension of the substantially-rectangular cross-section is approximately 32 mm.

8. The projection screen frame of claim 4 wherein the beam portions comprise a substantially-square cross-section.

9. The projection screen frame of claim 8 wherein the sides of the substantially- square cross-section measure approximately 32 mm.

10. The projection screen frame of claim 4 wherein at least one connecting brace is an over-center brace.

11. The projection screen frame of claim 4 wherein at least one beam has a slot disposed in the side thereof positioned and sized to accept at least a portion of a connecting brace.

12. The projection screen frame of claim 4 wherein at least one latch comprises an inner latch and an outer latch.

13. The projection screen frame of claim 12 wherein the outer latch is spring-loaded.

14. The projection screen frame of claim 12 wherein the inner latch is spring-loaded.