DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0039] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 , the first embodiment of the insect screen is suitable for use with French windows (glazed sliding doors) and may also be used as a sun screen. It comprises a mesh sheet 1 held substantially taut within a rectangular frame 2 a - d . This is of a size and shape that corresponds to the size and shape of the French windows or other sliding door installation against which it is adapted to sit. The frame 2 a - d mounts within an additional channel retro-fitted to or integral with the track of the sliding French window in order to be able to slide across the door opening when the French window/door is slid back to its opened state.

[0040] The mesh of the mesh sheet 1 is suitably sufficiently fine to exclude the smallest of flying insect pests such as gnats and mosquitoes. It is suitably of a plastics polymer such as nylon—in which case horizontal strengthening bars 3 are suitably provided at intervals, which are suitably equal intervals but which may be asymmetric, of the height of the screen and extending across the width of the screen. However, where the mesh is formed of a substantially rigid material such as aluminium or other metal or metal alloy, such additional strengthening is generally unnecessary other than, if desired, to act as a clear visual warning that the screen is drawn across the door opening to prevent individuals from failing to notice the fine unobtrusive screen and walking into it.

[0041] As can be seen from the side elevation, the insect screen has an extremely slim profile which is in practice suitably of the order of 20 mm or less and generally of the order of 16 mm (this is the depth of the screen, ie as measured from the front face of the screen to the back).

[0042] The rectangular frame 2 a - d is suitably formed of a pair of uprights/stiles 2 a , 2 b and top and bottom opposing cross-bars 2 c , 2 d all of aluminium, hard, hardened or strengthened plastics, wood or other suitable material that is lightweight but reasonably rigid. In one preferred construction, as can best be seen in FIGS. 1C and 1E , the stiles 2 a,b and cross-bars 2 c,d are suitably relatively thin planks being of the order of only 8 mm deep but the stiles 2 a,b are each re-inforced with a strengthening plank/bar/protrusion 11 that is suitably of the order of a further 8 mm in depth, whereby the profile of the screen is the preferred 16 mm as mentioned above.

[0043] The trailing edge stile 2 a of the frame has a vertically extending brush 4 (preferably bristle brush) which is adapted to ride smoothly over the surface of the underlying static glazing pane 100 of the French windows without damage to the glass if the screen should be pressed against the glass. It co-operatively engages ( FIG. 6A ) with a corresponding vertically extending brush 5 that is mounted on the static stile 6 of the French windows that borders the door opening opposite the jamb 8 . Abutment of the vertical brush 4 of the trailing edge stile 2 a of the screen frame against the vertical brush of the static stile 6 gives a firm and insect tight closure of the door opening when the screen is drawn across the opening. A small ramp 15 provided on the static stile 6 adjacent to and leading up to the vertically extending brush 5 serves to guide the vertical brush 4 of the screen's trailing edge stile 2 a slightly away from the plane of the window as it moves into engagement with the brush 5 , the screen thereby being itself pushed slightly away from the plane of the window and so partially wedged against its top and bottom tracks

[0044] The leading edge of the leading stile 2 b of the screen illustrated in FIG. 6A has a lip 7 which sits closely against a rail/channel 8 b on the right door jamb 8 to close against that end of the door opening. Suitably there is a rail/channel, 8 b at both right and left ends of the door opening.

[0045] Each of the top and bottom cross-bars 2 c , 2 d has their own respective brush 9 , 10 extending horizontally the length thereof to seal the screen respectively from top and bottom.

[0046] The illustrated configuration of fly screen has a pair of small handle knobs 10 provided on the lower of the transverse strengthening bars 3 , one knob 10 at each end. A small stowable handle is suitably provided on the rear face of the screen for handling the screen from the outside. This is suitably provided on the transverse bar 3 or on the leading edge stile 2 b and is particularly suitably pivotable to collapse substantially flat against the screen so that when the screen is fully drawn back against the static pane of the French windows the screen lies very closely against the static pane of the French windows. Such a pivotable handle 12 is illustrated in FIGS. 1C to 1 E as comprising a ring 12 that is pivotally mounted to the horizontal strengthening bar 3 by a bearing 13 .

[0047] As also shown in FIG. 1C, a spacer pad 14 is suitably provided at least adjacent to and suitably either side of the pivotal handle 12 primarily to counter risk of the stowed handle contacting the window, but also spacing the cross bar 3 away from direct contact with the window. In the preferred embodiment the pivotal handle is magnetic such as to be magnetically attracted back to its stowed position closely adjacent the screen.

[0048] By way of further detail apparent in the figures, the screen is provided with triangular corner pieces at each corner of the frame to better hold the mesh of the screen in place within the frame.

[0049] Turning to FIG. 6 B, this shows the FIG. 1C version of the screen as pulled to the doorway-closing position. Here the closure rail 8 b on the door jamb 8 has a distinct channel-defining shape to ensure that the leading edge 2 b of the closed screen is constrained closely against the jamb 8 . A felt brush spacer pad 16 is further provided in that rail 8 b to enhance the security of fit of the screen in the channel/rail 8 b.

[0050] Turning to FIG. 6 C, this shows the screen pulled to the stowed position to the left of the doorway. Here there is a corresponding channel-shaped rail 8 b ′.

[0051] With reference to FIG. 7 , the illustrated flyscreen for french doors has generally the same construction as the screen for french windows, including having the vertical brush/strip on the trailing edge stile and suitably also on the leading edge stile with the trailing edge one co-operating with a corresponding vertical brush on a central stile of the french doors. One or a pair of such flyscreens may be used with double doors.

[0052] A second embodiment of the invention, comprising a fly screen for windows, is illustrated in FIGS. 8 A through to 11 E and has a rigid rectangular frame construction in common with the first aspect. The materials and construction are suitably generally the same. The slim construction of the screen frame is again suitably augmented by an upright strengthening bar 22 on the leading stile 2 b ′. However, the trailing edge stile 2 a ′ of the fly screen frame 2 a ′- 2 d ′ is provided with an extension profile 20 that carries the brush 4 ′ of the trailing end of the frame and which is dimensioned suitably to enable the brush 4 ′ to maintain continuous contact with the underlying window while giving the fly screen clearance of the window handle. The depth of the extension 20 is suitably adapted to suit the required clearance.

[0053] In a particularly preferred embodiment the extension profile 20 is demountable from the fly screen trailing edge stile 2 a ′ to enable selection of the appropriate depth of extension 20 from amongst alternatives. The extension profile suitably keys to the frame by a sliding dovetail arrangement 21 or other keying arrangement ( FIG. 9A ).

[0054] As can be seen from FIG. 9, a channel 23 is suitably provided at one or both ends of the window opening, again to assist in constraining the screen closely in place when drawn or retracted. Suitably again, the screen runs along tracks 24 in the top and/ or bottom ( FIG. 10A ) of the window opening—preferably both.

[0055] Brushes 9 ′ are suitably provided not only along the top and bottom bars 2 c ′, 2 d ′ of the screen frame and the profile extension 20 of the trailing edge but optionally also along the leading edge. Where a brush is provided down the leading edge 2 b ′ this is suitably a felt brush rather than a bristle brush in contrast to the others. Various preferred configurations of brush are shown in FIGS. 11A to 11 D

[0056] As in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6 , the brush 4 ′ will suitably abut/engage with a corresponding brush 5 ′ on an upright of the sliding window when the screen 1 ′ is fully extended across the window opening. Referring to FIG. 10 B, the profile extension 20 may be made somewhat shorter than to cover the gap between screen and window when the corresponding brush 5 ′ on the upright is provided and is made taller, ie to project farther out from the plane of the window to meet with the shorter extension 20 .

[0057] Turning now to FIGS. 12 to 14 , these illustrate a roller blind-like insect screen which has a mesh sheet 1 ″ on a roll that may be pulled downwardly with its opposing lateral edges running in a pair of upright U-shaped channel tracks 30 , each of which tracks 30 is preferably encased in a cover 36 ( FIG. 14A ).

[0058] It may optionally also have a corresponding bottom track (not shown). It is preferably cord adjustable for deployment, since a spring-loaded gravity drop mechanism is unreliable.

[0059] The bottom bar 31 of the screen is suitably weighted with lead weights or the like to give stability and provide balance from front to back of the bar 31 . A handle knob 46 is provided mid-way along the bar 31 to facilitate manual manipulation into place. The strength of the screen 1 and support for the weighted bottom bar 31 is enhanced through provision of thickened solid 1 cm edging to the screen 1 .

[0060] The top casing/roller cassette 40 has a removable front cover 43 and, along the back thereof, a brush 44 extending the length thereof to exclude flies.

[0061] A removable secondary fly trap is suitably positioned in the top casing/roller cassette 40 of the roller comprising a plastic moulding 41 that hangs from the roof of the cassette 40 and extends the length of the roller the moulding 41 having a brush 42 running along its length that rests on the screen roll 1 ″ and accordingly remains continuously in contact with the screen roll 1 ″ as the screen is extended or retracted and as the roll 1 ″ correspondingly decreases or increases in diameter.

[0062] The upright tracks 30 on either side of the roller screen 1 ″ each have a bristle brush 32 along one longitudinal edge and a stabiliser panel/ wing 33 along the opposing longitudinal edge. Each of the wings 33 is adjustably mounted to its track 30 on hinges 34 . The hinges 34 take the form of bent pins being elongate and mounting in slots 35 in the wings 33 so that the wings 33 may be deployed by pulling laterally across and pivoting outwardly to release the edges of the roller blind screen 1 ″ to allow it to be pulled down. The wings 33 are then pivoted back and pushed back into the tracks 30 so that their curved rear faces push into and thereby to grip the fly screen against the brushes 32 in the tracks 30 once the screen is fully drawn down and deployed.

[0063] A strip of Velcro™ or similar is suitably provided on the rear face of each wing 33 preferably extending substantially along its length to enhance its grip. This gripping of the fly screen once the screen is deployed holds it firmly in place against any gusts of wind.

[0064] In the absence of a bottom track or not, the bottom edge/leading edge of the screen is suitably provided with a short felt brush 45 therealong and which effectively seals against the windowsill.