Reduced visibility window/door screen with a reduced frame profile and internal hardware
A reduced visibility window screen has four frame portions joined together using four corner connectors. A plunger assembly received within each side of the bottom frame portion includes: a compression spring; holder member, and plunger housing. The holder member includes: a body with a first protrusion that engages a compression spring that also contacts a first surface within an opening of the plunger housing, and a second protrusion that is received through a slot in a second surface within the opening of the plunger housing. The second surface is slanted, and the second side of the body is slanted and slides against the slanted surface. The spring biases both the body of the holder member to slide against the slanted surface, and the plunger assembly with respect to the bottom frame portion. An adhesive bonds the mesh to the frame in a two-step ultraviolet LED curing process.
1. A frame assembly for a window screen comprising:
a corner connector, said corner connector comprising a first leg and a second leg, with a hole through said first leg oriented along an axial direction of said first leg;
at least a bottom frame portion; said bottom frame portion comprising:
an axial opening;
a first opening on a side of said bottom frame portion being interconnected with said axial opening; and
a second opening on said side of said bottom frame portion being interconnected with said axial opening;
a plunger assembly; said plunger assembly comprising:
a compression spring;
a holder member, said holder member comprising:
a body;
a first protrusion that protrudes from a first side of said body, and engages a first end of said compression spring; and
a plunger housing; said plunger housing comprising:
a shaft, said shaft comprising:
an opening configured to receive said holder member when engaged with said compression spring, with a second end of said compression spring configured to contact a first surface within said opening of said plunger housing;
a pin, wherein said pin protrudes from a first end of said shaft;
a pull tab;
wherein said plunger assembly is received within said axial opening of said bottom frame portion, with a portion of said holder member being received within and fixed with respect to said first opening of said bottom frame portion and being engaged with a distal end of said first opening, to secure said holder member to said plunger housing and support said compression spring to normally bias said pin out from said bottom frame portion;
wherein at least a portion of said first leg of said corner connector is received through said axial opening of said bottom frame portion, with said pin received through said hole in said first leg; and
wherein a portion of said pull tab extends through said second opening of said bottom frame portion and is coupled to said plunger housing.
2. The frame assembly according to claim 1 ,
wherein said holder member comprises a second protrusion that protrudes from a second side of said body; said second protrusion being received through a slot in a second surface defining said opening of said plunger housing;
wherein said second surface is slanted with respect to an axial direction of said shaft;
wherein said second side of said body is slanted and configured to slide with respect to said slanted second surface within said opening in said plunger housing; and
wherein said compression spring biases said body of said holder member to slide with respect to said slanted second surface, and cause said engagement of said portion of said holder member within said first opening of said bottom frame portion.
3. The frame assembly according to claim 2 , wherein said plunger housing is keyed with respect to said axial opening of said bottom frame.
4. The frame assembly according to claim 3 , wherein said plunger housing comprises a rectangular cross-sectional shape, and said axial opening of said bottom frame comprises a corresponding rectangular cross-sectional shape.
5. The frame assembly according to claim 4 , wherein said pull tab comprises: a first protrusion and a second protrusion; wherein said shaft of said plunger housing comprises a second opening with a pair of lips; and wherein said first and second protrusion are configured to be engaged by said lips to secure said pull tab to said plunger housing.
6. The frame assembly according to claim 5 , wherein said first opening on said side of said bottom frame portion is a cylindrical opening.
7. The frame assembly according to claim 6 , wherein said pull tab comprises a curved flange configured to be grasped by a user to retract said pin of said plunger housing within said bottom frame portion.