Speed reducer for retractable screen systems
AssigneeClear View Products, Inc.
InventorsDarryl L. Grubb, Ronald H. Scott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A retractable screen mechanism having two tracks mounted on opposing sides of an opening and a screen with a screen material mounted on a frame having two flexible opposing sides corresponding to and adapted to engage the two tracks. A spool mechanism for winding up the screen extends between the flexible opposing sides and engages a third side of the frame and is biased to a wind up position. The spool mechanism has a speed reducer which comprises a resistance structure moving through a viscous fluid to reduce the speed of the biased screen when moving to the wind up position.
Claims16
A retractable screen system, adapted to, when installed, cover an opening of a structure, the retractable screen mechanism comprising:
- two tracks constructed to be mounted to said structure on opposing sides of the opening;
- a screen comprising a screen material mounted on a frame having two flexible opposing sides corresponding to and adapted to engage the two tracks;
- a spool mechanism extending between the flexible opposing sides and engaging a third side of the frame, the screen being adapted to wind up on the spool mechanism, the spool mechanism being biased to the wind up position;
- and
- the spool mechanism having a speed reducer comprising a resistance structure moving through a viscous fluid to reduce the speed of the biased screen when moving to the wind up position.
A retractable screen system, adapted to, when installed, cover an opening in a structure, the retractable screen mechanism comprising:
- two tracks constructed to be mounted on opposing sides of the opening;
- a screen comprising a screen material mounted on a frame having two flexible opposing sides corresponding to and adapted to engage the two tracks;
- a spool mechanism extending between the flexible opposing sides and engaging a third side of the frame, the screen being adapted to wind up on the spool mechanism, the spool mechanism being biased to the wind up position;
- a latch mechanism mounted to a fourth side of frame opposite the third side, the fourth side extending between the two flexible opposing sides, the latch mechanism engaging a corresponding latching mechanism mounted on the corresponding side of the structure opening to latch the screen in an extended position;
- and
- the spool mechanism having a speed reducer comprising a resistance structure moving through a viscous fluid to reduce the speed of the biased screen when moving to the wind up position, the spool mechanism comprising an elongated housing having a U-shaped profile and a rotating axle contained therein and a plate partially covering the open side end of the elongated housing, the elongate housing and the plate defining a slot, the third side of the screen extending through the slot to engage the axle, the axle engaging a spring mechanism at one end thereof, the spring mechanism being biased to hold the screen in the wind up position, the speed reducer being mounted at the other end of the axle.
A speed reducer for use in retractable screen systems having an axle biased to wind up a screen to a wind up position, the speed reducer comprising:
- a housing having a cap at one end thereof and a jackscrew rotatably received within the housing, the jackscrew having one end extending through the cap, the housing being filled with a viscous fluid;
- and
- a resistance structure in the form of a disk having one or more tabs which ride in one or more tracks within the interior of the housing, the disk being rotatably received on the jackscrew and traveling upwardly and downwardly along said jackscrew as the jackscrew rotates, the resistance structure moving through the viscous fluid to reduce the speed of the screen when moving to the wind up position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.