US2599918A - Supporting means for sheet material - Google Patents

Description

June 10, 1952 A. c. HOVEN ETAL SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SHEET MATERIAL n a 1 M T n E f m war 2% s V Lu mfimm m a m d 2 Wa A w lat kiln I! HAVFH N June 10, 1952 A. c. HOVEN ETAL 2 SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SHEET MATERIAL E. 2 Mn 0 Jw W M a r m mow w. m E m m u l l CE m n 2 MI s m m 2 7 mm 5 hm m w l a n mm V. m 2 m "m u M HE" m I 2 ml 7... o m u r .7, w. 7. n m (I z m .3 s z 6 r a 2 Z 1 w .E. .r M l d 1 F Patented June 10, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,599,918 SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SHEET MATERIAL Alfred C. Haven and Walter E. Nordmark, Grand Rapids, Mich, assignors to American Seating Company, Grand Rapids,Mich., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 26, 1949, Serial No. 95,462 Q Claims. (Cl. 248273) The present invention relates to supporting means for sheet materials and more particularly to supporting means for mounting a light diffusion screen adjacent a window or the like.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide a light diffusion screen and supporting means therefor which may quickly and easily be installed adjacent a window in properly adjusted position, and even in instances wherein the vertical wall surfaces at opposite sides of the window lie in different planes parallel to the plane of the window; to provide such a diifusion screen and supporting means therefor so constructed and arranged that the screen may readily be attached to the supporting means or detached therefrom for the purpose of cleaning the screen; and in general to provide such a diffusion screen and supporting means which is sturdy in construction, reasonably economical in manufacture, and attractive in appearance.

These and any other and more specific objects hereinafter appearing are attained by, and the invention finds preferable embodiment in, the structures and devices hereinafter particularly described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary elevational view of the inside of a building wall having windows therein and showing the new light diffusion screen and supporting means therefor mounted adjacent said windows;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same taken on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary front elevational view of parts of the same which are outlined in broken lines in the upper right hand corner of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken on line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged, end elevational view with portions broken away, of one of the supports by means of which the light diffusion screen is mounted;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view of the same taken on line 1-1 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional View of the same taken on line 88 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of a portion of one of the diffusion screen supports, and;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of the same taken on line IB- -IO of Figure 6.

Referring now in detail to these drawings 2 wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals in the several views, the light diffusion screen generally designated II is mounted adjacent the inside of Windows I2, I3 and I4 in the outer wall I5 of a building and in upwardly-inwardly extending disposition. The purpose of such a diffusion screen is to reduce the glare from the windows without materially reducing the amount of light which is permitted to enter. Such screening is desirably made of woven spun glass or the like which, as indicated by arrows in Figure 2, transmits some of the light directly while at the same time deflecting much of the light upwardly toward the ceiling from which it is reflected down into the room. Such diffusion screens are particularly desirable in classrooms.

For mounting the diffusion screen II in correctly adjusted position adjacent the window I3, wall brackets I6 are provided, which brackets I6 are cross-sectionally U-shaped and which are secured to the wall surfaces at opposite sides of the window as by means of screws passing through apertures in the bight portions l8 of the brackets and into the wall. The legs l9 of these wall brackets I6 extend inwardly and are provided with horizontally elongated slots 20 therein.

Mounting members 2|, of generally rectangular cross-section and formed of complementary sheet metal elements 22, 23 are slid onto the wall brackets It and are secured thereto in inwardlyoutwardly adjusted position by means of bolts 24 passing through apertures in the opposite side walls of the mounting members 2| and through the slots 26 in the wall brackets, said bolts 24 being provided with nuts 25 on the threaded ends thereof. Spacer elements 26 are provided between the legs I9 of the wall brackets to prevent collapsing of the legs when the nuts 25 are tightened on the bolts 24, said spacer elements being secured in position by the same screws I! which secure the wall brackets It to the wall, and being provided with curled portions 21 which surround the spaces between the slots 29.

The inner ends of the mounting members 2| are upwardly-inwardly sloping and are provided with upwardly-inwardly sloping fingers 28 which are formed by bending up the inwardly projecting ends of the horizontal flanges of the sheet metal elements 22, 23 which form the mounting members 2|. Supporting brackets 29 are provided with series of pockets 30 formed therein which pockets are selectivelyengageable with the fingers 28 on the mounting members 2| in order to secure the spaced supporting brackets 29 in upwardly-inwardly adjusted horizontal alignment. The supporting brackets 29 have inwardly extending upper arms 3| provided with sockets 32 on the inner ends thereof, and inwardly extending lower arm 33 having sockets 34 on the inner ends thereof, said upper arms 3| extending farther inwardly than the lower arms 33. When correctly installed the sockets 32 on the upper arms 3| are horizontally aligned and serve as a mooring for the upper marginal edge 35 of the diffusion screen II, in which edge is hemmed a tubular bar 36 for rigidity. The lower sockets 34 are similarly horizontally aligned and serve as a mooring for the lower marginal edge 31 of the diffusion screen II, in which edge is hemmed a similar tubular bar 38, likewise for rigidity. Spring clips 39 may be employed for detachably securing the bars and the edges of the diffusion screen within the upper and lower sockets of the supporting brackets 29. (See Figures 3, 4 and 6.)

The invention provide suitable mounting means for a diffusion screen even in instances wherein the wall surfaces at opposite sides of the window on which the supporting brackets are mounted, lie in different vertical planes parallel to the window. As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, the window I3 is flanked by a mullion 40 between the windows |2, l3 and by a pilaster 4|. The vertical inner wall surface of the pilaster 4| lies in a more inward plane than that of the mullion 49. In such a condition the wall bracket 13 and mounting member 2| on the pilaster 4| are placed at a higher level than those on the mullion 40, so that the sloping inner ends of the mounting members 2| lie in the same upwardly-inwardly extending plane. The supporting bracket 29 on the pilaster is then engaged by a relatively high pair of pockets 30 thereon with the fingers 28 on the adjacent mounting member, and the supporting bracket 29 on the mullion is engaged by a relatively low pair of pockets 3|] thereon with the fingers 28 on its adjacent mounting member, so that the supporting brackets are positioned in horizontal alignment. Substantial differences between the planes of the wall surfaces are thus compensated for, while slight differences may be compensated for by the inward-outward horizontal adjustability of the mounting members 2| relative to the wall brackets l6.

In installations where there is a series of windows, it is found desirable to mount a continuous diffusion screen adjacent the windows. As best seen in Figures 1, 3 and 5, this is accomplished by connecting the adjoining ends of adjacent screens each mounted and supported as hereinbefore described. Connecting elements 42 in the form of short lengths of metal tubing are fitted into the adjacent end of the upper tubular bars 36 within the hems of adjacent screens and likewise within the adjacent ends of the lower tubular bars 38, and a slide fastener or zipper 43 detachably connects the adjacent ends of the screen sections II. It will thus be seen that the adjacent screen sections l are readily detachable from each other, and they are also readily detachable from the supporting brackets 29 therefor upon first removing the spring clips 39, when it is desired to take the screen downs for cleaning without disturbing the supporting means.

Only one length of'diffusion screen has been shown in the drawings, which screens the upper sections of the windows. Additional screens may 4 be provided at lower levels, however, for screening the lower sections of the windows.

It will thus be seen that a novel, convenient and effective diffusion screen and supporting means therefor is provided by the invention, and while but one specific embodiment of the invention has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that the spirit of the invention comprehends all such modifications of the embodiment shown as fall within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. Means for supporting a light diffusion screen in upwardly-inwardly extending disposition adjacent a window or the like, such window being flanked by inner wall surfaces which may lie in diiferent vertical planes parallel to the plane of the window, said means comprising: mounting members connected to said wall surfaces respectively and extending inwardly therefrom, said mounting members being of equal length and having upwardly-inwardly sloping inner ends. and being secured to said wall surfaces at selected levels so that their sloping inner ends lie in the same upwardly-inwardly inclined plane; supporting brackets mounted on said mounting members in horizontal alignment and provided with inwardly extending upper and lower arms, said upper arms extending inwardly beyond said lower arms; a horizontal bar supported on the inner ends of the upper arms and serving as a mooring for the upper marginal edge of said diffusion screen; and a similar horizontal bar supported by the lower arms and serving as a mooring for the lower marginal edge of said diffusion screen.

2. Means for supporting alight diffusion screen in upwardly-inwardly extending disposition adjacent a window or the like, such window being flanked by inner wall surfaces which may lie in different vertical planes parallel to the plane of the window, said means comprising: mounting members connected to said wall surfaces respectively and extending inwardly therefrom, said mounting members being of equal length and having upwardly-inwardly sloping inner ends, and being secured to said wall surfaces at selected levels so that their sloping inner ends lie in the same upwardly-inwardly inclined plane; supporting brackets vertically adjustably mounted on said mounting members in horizontal alignment and provided with inwardly extending upper and lower arms, said upper arms extending inwardly beyond said lower arms; a horizontal bar supported on the inner ends of the upper arms and serving as a mooring for the upper marginal edge of said diffusion screen; and a similar horizontal bar supported by the lower arms and serving as a mooring for the lower marginal edge of said diifusion screen.

3. Means for supporting a light diffusion screen in upwardly-inwardly extending disposition adjacent a window or the like, such window being flanked by inner wall surfaces which may lie in difierent vertical planes parallel to the plane of the window, said means comprising: wall brackets connected to said wall surfaces respectively; mounting members inwardly-outwardly adjustably connected to said wall brackets and extending inwardly therefrom, said mounting members being of equal length and having upwardly-inwardly sloping inner ends, and said Wall brackets being secured to said wall surfaces at selected levels so that the sloping inner ends of the mounting members lie in the same upwardly-inwardly inclined plane; supporting brackets mounted on said mounting members in horizontal alignment and provided with inwardly extending upper and lower arms, said upper arms extending inwardly beyond said lower arms; a horizontal bar supported on the inner ends of the upper arms and serving as a mooring for the upper marginal edge of said diffusion screen; and a similar horizontal bar supported by the lower arms and serving as a mooring for the lower marginal edge of said diffusion screen.

4. Means for supporting a light diffusion screen in upwardly-inwardly extending disposition adjacent a window or the like, such window being flanked by inner wall surfaces which may lie in difierent vertical planes parallel to the plane of the window, said means comprising: wall brackets connected to said wall surfaces respectively; mounting members inwardly-outwardly adjustably connected to said Wall brackets and extending inwardly therefrom, said mounting members being of equal length and having upwardlyinwardly sloping inner ends provided with upwardly-inwardly extending aligned fingers thereon, and said wall brackets being secured to said wall surfaces at selected levels so that the sloping inner ends of the mounting members lie in the same upwardly-inwardly inclined plane; supporting brackets having series of pockets therein selectively engageable with said fingers to secure the supporting brackets to said mounting members in upwardly-inwardly adjusted horizontally aligned positions, said supporting brackets being provided with inwardly extending upper and lower arms, said upper arms extending inwardly beyond said lower arms; a horizontal bar supported on the inner ends of the upper arms and serving as a mooring for the upper marginal edge of said diffusion screen; and a similar horizontal bar supported by the lower arms and serving as a mooring for the lower marginal edge of said diffusion screen.

5. Means for supporting a sheet of material in sloping disposition adjacent wall surfaces in spaced parallel vertical planes, said means comprising: mounting members connected to said wall surfaces respectively in horizontally spaced relation and extending laterally from said surfaces in the same direction, said mounting members being of equal length and having their ends away from the wall similarly sloping, and being secured to said wall surfaces at selected levels so that their sloping ends lie in the same sloping plane; supporting brackets vertically adjustably mounted on said mounting members in horizontal aligmnent and provided with inwardly extending upper and lower arms adapted to support said sheet of material at spaced points along the upper and lower edges thereof.

ALFRED C. HOVEN. WALTER E. NORDMARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,218,122 Scott Mar. 6, 1917 1,322,811 Moore Nov. 25, 1919 2,185,385 Rose Jan. 2, 1940 2,334,856 Atkinson Nov. 23, 1943 2,484,855 Press Oct. 18, 1949

Images