Case for roller-operated screen system

• US 6,873,461 B1
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Draper Incorporated (Denise Aversano,)
• Original Assignee: Draper Incorporated (Denise Aversano,)
• Inventors: McPherson, Jerry L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dowling, William C.
• Application Number:
  US10/374,298
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 359/461, 160/23.1, 160/26, 160/38, 160/39, 160/263, 160/903
• US Class Current: 359/461
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/50 Bearings specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/58 collapsible, e.g. foldable; of variable area
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 160/903 Roll type bracket means

Abstract

A screen system is disclosed for displaying an image projected by a projector or for partially or fully blocking light from entering a room. The screen system includes a housing and a screen assembly. The housing includes a plurality of extruded housing segment and at least one coupler configured to couple the segments together.

Claims

1. A screen system comprising

a screen assembly including a roller and a screen, and

a screen housing having a longitudinal axis and defining an interior region, the screen being positioned in the interior region of the screen housing, the screen housing including a plurality of extruded segments positioned in parallel relationship and at least one coupler positioned to couple at least two of the extruded segments together, the coupler extending parallel to the at two extruded segments.

2. The screen system of claim 1, wherein the coupler includes a plurality of coupler segments positioned end-to-end.

3. The screen system of claim 1, wherein the coupler has a length substantially equal to a length of the screen housing.

4. The screen system of claim 1, the two extruded segments coupled together by the coupler cooperate to define a channel configured to slidably receive the coupler.

5. A screen system comprising

a screen assembly including a roller and a screen, and

a screen housing having a longitudinal axis and defining an interior region, the roller and screen being positioned in the interior region of the screen housing, the screen housing including first and second housing segments positioned in parallel relationship and at least one coupler positioned to couple the first and second housing segments together, the coupler including a first channel and a second channel, a portion of the first housing segment begin positioned in the first channel, and a portion of the second housing being positioned in the second channel.

6. The screen system of claim 5, wherein coupler includes a plurality of lugs.

7. The screen system of claim 6, wherein the lugs cooperate to define an X-shape.

8. The screen system of claim 5, wherein the first channel of the coupler is substantially filled by the portion of the first housing segment and the second channel of the coupler is substantially filled by the portion of the second housing segment.

9. The screen system of claim 5, wherein the coupler is symmetric.

10. A screen system comprising

a screen assembly including a roller and a screen, and

a screen housing having a longitudinal axis and defining an interior region, the roller and screen being positioned in the interior region of the screen housing, the screen housing including first and second extruded housing segments positioned in parallel relationship and a first coupler positioned to couple the first and second extruded housing segments together, the second extruded housing segment being a substantial mirror image of the first extruded housing segment.

11. The screen system of claim 10, wherein the screen housing further includes third and fourth extruded housing segments, a second coupler positioned to couple third extruded housing segment to the first extruded housing segment, and a third coupler positioned to couple the fourth extruded housing segment to the second extruded housing segment, the fourth extruded housing segment is a substantial mirror image of the third extruded housing segment.

12. The screen system of claim 10, wherein the screen housing defines a longitudinally extending plane that divides the housing into first and second halves, the first extruded housing segment is positioned on a first half and the second extruded housing segment is positioned on the second half.

13. The screen system of claim 10, wherein the housing is box-like having at least first and second corners, the first extruded housing segment defines the first corner, an the second extruded housing segment defines the second corner.

14. A screen system comprising

a screen assembly including a roller and a screen, and

a screen housing having a longitudinal axis and defining an interior region, the roller and screen being positioned in the interior region of the screen housing, the screen housing includes at least one extruded member having a longitudinal length and nominal wall thickness, the nominal wall thickness-to-longitudinal length ratio being less than 8×

10<sup>−

4</sup>.

15. The screen system of claim 14, wherein the screen housing has a length greater than 14 feet.

16. The screen system of claim 15, wherein the nominal wall thickness of the extruded member is less than 0.11 inches.

17. The screen system of claim 14, wherein the nominal wall thickness-to-longitudinal length ration is less than 7×

10<sup>−

4</sup>.

18. The screen system of claim 14, wherein the screen housing includes a plurality of extruded members that cooperate to define the interior region of the screen housing.

19. The screen system of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of extruded members has a length and a maximum width, the maximum width of each of the plurality of extruded members is less than 7 inches.

20. The screen system of 14, wherein the housing includes a plurality of extruded housing member cooperating to defile top and side walls of the housing, each of the plurality of extruded housing members has a longitudinal length and nominal wall thickness, each of the nominal wall thickness-to-longitudinal length ratios being less than 8×

10<sup>−

4</sup>.

21. A screen system comprising

a screen assembly including a roller and a screen,

a screen housing defining an interior region, the roller and screen being positioned in the interior region of the screen housing, the screen housing having first and second side walls, the first side wall including a wall formation thereon, and

a closure having a closure formation, the closure formation being configured to couple the closure to the wall formation, the closure and the second side wall defining an opening therebetween sized to permit the screen to move therein during raising and lowering of the screen relative to the screen housing, the wall formation and the closure formation cooperate to permit movement of the closure along a path transverse to the first wall to couple the closure formation to the wall formation.

22. The screen system of claim 21, wherein the opening faces in a downward direction and at least one of the wall formation and the closure formation define a channel having an opening facing in a horizontal direction.

23. The screen system of claim 21, wherein the path is linear.

24. Th screen system of claim 21, wherein the closure and the first wall define angles therebetween of greater than 70 degrees during the duration of the travel of the closure along the path.