Mounting assembly comprising a plurality of retractable screens
OwnerWilliam B. Spencerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is directed to a system of presenting and displaying information in a home office or executive environment. The system includes an outer casing that houses a plurality of pull-down screens. In use, the screens can be extended in a downward direction from the open lower face of the casing. Advantageously, the assembly provides a storage configuration where a plurality of pull-down screens are hidden from view within the interior of the casing. The assembly also includes a use configuration where one or more screens extend from the bottom face of the casing, allowing information/ideas to be exchanged and conveyed.
Claims20
An assembly comprising:
- an outer casing comprising a top surface, a front surface, a rear surface, a pair of sidewalls, and an open bottom surface defining an interior;
- two or more screens, each defined by a bottom edge, top edge, front face, rear face, and side edges;
- two or more helically wound roller bars configured within the interior of the outer casing, each roller bar defined by:
- a first end connected to a first casing sidewall;
- a second end connected to a second casing sidewall;
- a length between the first and second ends;
- at least one helically wound torsion spring operatively connected to the roller bar to drivingly rotate the roller in at least one direction of rotation;
- a retention arm rotatable between a first storage orientation and a second use orientation adjacent to a rear surface of the casing;
- wherein each screen is wound around a corresponding roller bar in a first configuration;
- wherein each screen is at least partially unwound from a corresponding roller bar in a second configuration;
- and
- wherein each roller bar is mounted adjacent to adjacent roller bars at an angle of about 30-60 degrees relative to the horizontal.
A method of extending at least one pull-down screen from an assembly, the method comprising:
- applying a downward pressure to the bottom end of at least one pull-down screen of an assembly, the assembly defined by:
- an outer casing comprising a top surface, a front surface, a rear surface, a pair of sidewalls, and an open bottom surface defining an interior;
- two or more screens, each defined by a bottom edge, top edge, front face, rear face, and side edges;
- two or more roller bars configured within the interior of the outer casing, each roller bar defined by:
- a first end connected to a first casing sidewall;
- a second end connected to a second casing sidewall;
- a length between the first and second ends;
- at least one helically wound torsion spring operatively connected to the roller bar to drivingly rotate the roller in at least one direction of rotation;
- a retention arm rotatable between a first orientation and a second orientation adjacent to a rear surface of the casing;
- wherein each screen is wound around a corresponding roller bar in a first configuration;
- wherein each screen is at least partially unwound from a corresponding roller bar in a second configuration;
- and
- wherein each roller bar is mounted adjacent to adjacent roller bars at an angle of about 30-60 degrees relative to the horizontal;
- extending the retention arm to the second orientation;
- pulling the screen to a desired width;
- after a desired amount of time, retracting the screen around the corresponding roller bar by applying an upward pressure;
- and
- extending the retention arm to the first orientation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.