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US 12,435,565 B2Granted
High wind tolerant track assembly for a motorized retractable screen
OwnerKolar L. Seshasaiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A track assembly including a channel section in a fixed track having a screen receiver receiving a portion of a screen therein and at least one spring inserted in the length of the channel section. The at least one spring has a pre-defined spring rate which is designed to allow movement of the screen receiver in the channel in a first direction and back, depending upon an amount of tension or force applied thereto, e.g., as a result of wind pressure due to inclement weather that is applied to the screen. The spring(s) may be compressed by the screen receiver in such instances that force is applied thereto, and the compressed spring is configured to force the screen receiver back in an opposite direction when force is reduced or released.
Claims21
A track assembly comprising:
- a metal U-shaped track configured to be fixed to a structure, the metal U-shaped track having an elongate channel comprising an open side, an end wall, an interior, and two side walls, the interior of the elongate channel comprising a first region and a second region each provided within the two side walls, the first region defined between the end wall and an interior partition wall that extends between and connects to the two side walls, and the second region defined from the interior partition wall towards the open side, and the two side walls extending from at least the interior partition wall to the open side;
- and
- a screen receiver and at least one wave spring positioned within the elongate channel, the screen receiver configured to receive a portion of a screen therein,
- wherein the at least one wave spring has a plurality of waves, the waves comprising a plurality of peaks and valleys, and the plurality of waves is designed for (a) compression during movement of the screen receiver in a first direction upon application of force thereto and (b) expansion to force the screen receiver towards a second direction opposite the first direction when the application of force is reduced,
- wherein the plurality of waves of the at least one wave spring have a first peak to valley amplitude when the force is applied thereto and compresses the at least one wave spring, and a second peak to valley amplitude when the application of force is reduced and the at least one wave spring is expanded, and wherein the second peak to valley amplitude is greater than the first peak to valley amplitude, and
- wherein the at least one wave spring has a spring rate between 5 lbs/inch and 300 lbs/inch and is at least three feet long.
3 more elements
A track assembly comprising:
- a metal U-shaped track configured to be fixed to a structure, the metal U-shaped track having an elongate channel comprising an open side, an end wall, an interior, and two side walls, the interior of the elongate channel comprising a first region and a second region each provided within the two side walls, the first region defined between the end wall and an interior partition wall that extends between and connects to the two side walls, and the second region defined from the interior partition wall towards the open side, and the two side walls extending from at least the interior partition wall to the open side;
- and
- a screen receiver and at least one wave spring both provided in the second region, the screen receiver configured to receive a portion of a screen therein;
- wherein the at least one wave spring has a plurality of waves, the waves comprising a plurality of peaks and valleys, and the plurality of waves is designed for (a) compression during movement of the screen receiver in a first direction upon application of force thereto and (b) expansion to force the screen receiver towards a second direction opposite the first direction when the application of force is reduced,
- wherein the plurality of waves of the at least one wave spring have a first peak to valley amplitude when the force is applied thereto and compresses the at least one wave spring, and a second peak to valley amplitude when the application of force is reduced and the at least one wave spring is expanded, and wherein the second peak to valley amplitude is greater than the first peak to valley amplitude, and
- wherein the at least one wave spring is configured to compress or deflect a minimum of approximately 0.25 inches under wind pressure as a result of nominal wind speed to a maximum of approximately 6.0 inches under wind pressure as a result of high wind speed thereto, and is at least three feet long.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.