The present invention relates to a screen device comprising a screen, a screen guide which comprises a space in its longitudinal direction for accommodating a lateral side of the screen, a lateral guide which is arranged on said lateral side and at least one leaf spring which is at least partly arranged between the lateral guide and the screen guide to tension the screen.

Such a screen device is generally used to screen off a doorway or window opening or to cover a patio. In this case, the screen of such a screen device may be rolled up onto and unrolled from a screen roller, but may also be arranged in a fixed position.

The lateral sides of such a screen are encased in such a screen guide in order to be able, for example, to absorb wind loads without the screen moving to and fro, starting to flap, etc. These may be encased in, for example, such a screen guide by providing the lateral sides with a thickening, which is accommodated in said space. Such a thickening may be configured, for example, as half a zip fastener.

This screen guide is preferably tensioned by means of one or more springs with respect to the lateral guide, so that the screen remains smooth and loads on the screen are absorbed without this screen tearing. In this case, elastic material or springs exert a spring force on the screen guide which forces the screen guide away from the screen. In this case, the lateral guide is typically arranged in a fixed position.

With many classical screen devices, elastic material is provided between a screen guide and a lateral guide in which this screen guide is fitted in order to tension the screen guide with respect to the lateral guide. However, this elastic material is less durable as it undergoes changes on account of the temperature and the passing of time.

Spiral springs, such as for example described in JP 2003013680 or JP 10212878, may be used as an alternative for such elastic material. However, such spiral springs are less easy to fit and screen guides using the solutions described cannot be designed as compact as those using the known elastic materials.

Several different screen devices are known in which leaf springs are used to tension the screen guide with respect to the lateral guide. Such screen devices are described, for example, in EP 2 157 275 A2 and DE 10 201 1 1 18 859 Al . However, these solutions have the drawback that the leaf springs result in greater wear of the guides and in noise.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a screen guide which limits the abovementioned problems.

This object of the invention is achieved by providing a screen device comprising a screen, a screen guide which comprises a space in its longitudinal direction for accommodating a lateral side of the screen, a lateral guide which is arranged on said lateral side and at least one leaf spring which is at least partly arranged between the lateral guide and the screen guide to tension the screen, in which the spring, in the fitted position, is fastened to the screen guide and is fastened to the lateral guide.

By fastening the spring to the guides, such a leaf spring - even in embodiments in which this fastening still allows a degree of freedom of movement - will move less with respect to these guides than with the known solutions, so that less noise is produced when loads act thereon and the guides are subject to less wear. As the spring force of the spring cushions the screen guide with respect to the lateral guide and forces it away from the screen, the spring force will therefore limit any freedom of movement in the fitted position of the screen device. There is less friction between the leaf spring and the guides and since the movement of the leaf spring with respect to the guides is restricted, noise is also limited.

For example, it is already sufficient, with a leaf spring as described in EP 2 157 275 A2 and DE 10 201 1 1 18 859 Al, to fasten the free ends of the sprung legs to the lateral guide in order to achieve a significant improvement with regard to wear and noise.

A screen device according to the present invention is preferably provided with said guides with said leaf springs on either side of the screen in order to cushion the screen guides with respect to the lateral guides.

In a preferred embodiment, the leaf spring comprises a first fastening lip, in which the screen guide comprises a fastening space for accommodating the first fastening lip.

By now fastening the leaf spring to the screen guide by means of such a fastening lip, by accommodating the fastening lip in a fastening space, this fastening will still allow a certain freedom of the leaf spring with respect to the screen guide, but at the same time, this leaf spring is not able to move sufficiently with respect to these guides in the fitted position to cause noise pollution or promote wear.

The fastening space of the screen guide preferably comprises an access opening which is provided on a side of the screen guide facing away from the screen and through which the leaf spring extends in the fitted position. In this way, the leaf spring can be fastened on the side of the screen guide, facing away from the side on which the space ends in which the lateral side of the screen is held. Thus, it is easily possible to configure the screen guide to be compact. A said access opening to the fastening space of the screen guide is preferably at least partly delimited by a shoulder behind which the first fastening lip engages when it is accommodated in the corresponding fastening space.

In a further preferred embodiment, the spring comprises a second fastening lip and the lateral guide comprises a fastening space for accommodating the second fastening lip. The fastening space of the lateral guide preferably comprises an access opening which is provided on a side of the lateral guide facing the screen and through which the leaf spring extends in the fitted position.

Providing this access opening in such a way that it faces the screen, makes it possible to make the leaf spring as compact as possible.

Where the leaf spring is fastened to the screen guide by a first fastening lip as well as by a second fastening lip on the lateral guide and where the access opening to the fastening space in the screen guide is provided on the side facing away from the screen, when the access opening to the fastening space in the lateral guide is provided facing the screen, the leaf spring can be made very compact.

A said access opening to the fastening space of the lateral guide is preferably at least partly delimited by a shoulder behind which the second fastening lip engages when it is accommodated in the corresponding fastening space.

The spring of a screen device according to the present invention preferably extends substantially between the screen guide and the lateral guide. Thus, it is simpler to make this leaf spring compact. Furthermore, this spring can then more easily be substantially hidden from view, as such sprung elements are often seen as being unaesthetic.

The lateral guide of a screen device according to the present invention preferably comprises a rear wall and at least one side wall which is upright with respect to this rear wall, for at least partly screening off the screen guide. The screen guide can then be screened off on two sides by means of the lateral guide and optionally on a third side by a structure bearing against the lateral guide.

With regard to ease of installation and/or where the lateral guide cannot be placed against an adjacent structure, the lateral guide preferably comprises two side walls which are upright with respect to the rear wall and situated on either side of the screen guide, so that the screen guide is screened off on both sides. The lateral guide is then in this case virtually U-shaped.

Still more preferably, the lateral guide furthermore also comprises a shoulder on the end of each aforesaid side wall, facing away from the rear wall, for screening off the screen guide further. The lateral guide in this case then preferably comprises a flange which extends partly behind this shoulder. When the lateral guide comprises two upright side walls with associated shoulder, then the lateral guide preferably comprises two corresponding flanges. The spring of a screen device according to the present invention may, more specifically, comprise a first leg which is provided with an aforesaid first fastening lip and a second leg which is provided with an aforesaid second fastening lip.

In a more specific embodiment, the spring may comprise at least one additional leg which is provided with an additional second fastening lip for fastening the additional leg to the lateral guide.

The lateral guide is then preferably provided with an additional fastening space for accommodating the additional second fastening lip. In a still more specific embodiment, the spring may comprise at least one additional leg which is provided with an additional first fastening lip for fastening the additional leg to the screen guide.

The screen guide is then preferably provided with an additional fastening space for accommodating the additional first fastening lip.

However, with a view to compactness, the screen guide is preferably provided with only one fastening space.

Where the lateral guide and/or the screen guide comprises only one fastening space for accommodating one or more corresponding fastening lips, this fastening space and its access opening are preferably, viewed in a direction at right angles to the screen, arranged at the location of this screen, so that loads can be absorbed as directly as possible by this leaf spring.

Where the lateral guide and/or the screen guide comprise two fastening spaces for accommodating fastening lips of corresponding legs, these fastening spaces and their access openings are preferably arranged symmetrically with respect to the screen in order to absorb the loads exerted on the screen in an optimum manner.

The expression a direction at right angles to the screen is understood to mean a direction at right angles to the plane in which a screen arranged in a fixed position substantially extends or at right angles to the plane in which a screen which can be rolled up substantially extends in the unrolled position. This plane may optionally be a curved plane.

In a screen device according to the present invention, the legs of a spring with said legs are preferably arranged one behind the other, viewed in a direction at right angles to the plane of the screen.

Still more preferably, these legs are in this case also arranged a certain intermediate distance apart. Even more preferably, the fastening lips are in this case also arranged a certain intermediate distance apart.

When such a spring comprises a first leg, a second leg and an additional leg with a second fastening lip, then, viewed in a direction at right angles to the plane of the screen, the first leg is preferably arranged between the second leg and the additional leg.

If such a spring only comprises this first leg, this second leg and this additional leg with second fastening lip as legs, then the first leg, viewed in a direction at right angles to the plane of the screen, is preferably wider than the second leg and preferably wider than the additional leg. The second leg and the additional leg are in this case preferably designed to be of virtually equal width. When an aforesaid spring with legs arranged in succession comprises a first leg, a second leg and an additional leg with a first fastening lip, then, viewed in a direction at right angles to the plane of the screen, the second leg is preferably arranged between the first leg and the additional leg.

If such a spring only comprises this first leg, this second leg and this additional leg with first fastening lip as legs, then the second leg, viewed in a direction at right angles to the plane of the screen, is preferably wider than the first leg and preferably wider than the additional leg. The first leg and the additional leg are in this case preferably designed to be of virtually equal width.

In a screen device according to the present invention, the legs of a spring with said legs are furthermore preferably connected to each other at both their ends, with said fastening lips preferably being arranged between the ends of the respective legs. The fastening lips of a spring with said fastening lips are preferably arranged one behind the other at the same height, viewed in a direction at right angles to the screen.

Furthermore, a spring with an aforesaid first fastening lip is preferably widened, at the location of the first fastening lip, in such a manner that an additional first fastening lip extends in this widened section opposite the first fastening lip.

With a spring with an aforesaid second fastening lip, this spring is preferably also widened at the location of the second fastening lip in such a manner that an additional second fastening lip extends in this widened section opposite the second fastening lip.

With such springs with widened section comprising first fastening lips and/or second fastening lips, a shoulder is preferably provided for each fastening lip on either side of the respective access opening, so that these fastening lips cannot come away from the respective fastening spaces as easily on account of loads. The spring of a screen device according to the present invention is preferably made in one piece.

More specifically, it may be punched, for example, from one sheet. This is a particularly easy production method for such a spring.

The design of the spring is furthermore preferably symmetrical.

Still more preferable, the spring is then arranged symmetrically with respect to the plane of the screen in order to absorb loads in an optimum manner. In a screen device according to the present invention, several of said springs are preferably arranged distributed along the length of the guides. The number of springs and the intermediate distance between these springs may be determined on the basis of the loads to be absorbed. In order to be able to arrange several springs distributed along the length of the guides in a simple manner, said fastening spaces extend preferably along the entire length of the guides, preferably with slot-shaped access openings for these fastening spaces, so that the positioning of the springs can be varied freely as desired. The present invention will now be explained in more detail by means of the following detailed description of an embodiment of a screen device according to the present invention. The sole aim of this description is to give illustrative examples and to indicate further advantages and features of the present invention, and can therefore not be interpreted as a limitation of the area of application of the invention or of the patent rights defined in the claims.

In this detailed description, reference numerals are used to refer to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a screen device in perspective; Fig. 2 shows the lateral guide, a spring and the screen guide of a screen device according to the present invention in perspective, in the disassembled state;

Fig. 3 shows the lateral guide, spring and screen guide from Fig. 2 in perspective with the screen guide in the lateral guide and the spring in the partly fitted position;

Fig. 4 shows the screen guide from Fig. 2 in top view;

Fig. 5 shows the spring from Fig. 2 in top view;

Fig. 6 shows the lateral guide from Fig. 2 in top view;

- Fig. 7 shows the screen guide, spring and lateral guide from Fig. 2 in the fitted position in top view;

Fig. 8 shows the screen guide from Fig. 2 with some springs, such as the spring from Fig. 2, in perspective, viewed from the side of the screen;

Fig. 9 shows the screen guide from Fig. 2 with some springs, such as the spring from Fig. 2, in perspective, viewed from the side turned away from the screen.

The illustrated embodiment of a screen device (1) according to the present invention comprises a screen (2) which can be rolled up onto and unrolled from a cloth roller (not shown) in a known manner, which is accommodated in the illustrated screen box (25).

During the rolling and unrolling movement, the screen (2) is guided on its lateral sides in the screen guides (3) which are accommodated in the lateral guides (4).

On the other side from the side where the screen (2) is rolled up onto and unrolled from the cloth roller, a bottom slat (25) is attached to the screen (2).

In order to guide the lateral sides of the screen (2) in the respective screen guides (3), each lateral side is accommodated in a space (6) of the respective screen guide (3). To this end, this lateral side is preferably designed with a thickening so as not to come out of this space easily and may, to this end, for example be provided with a half zip fastener. Quite a number of alternatives for such a half zip fastener are also known, such as for example a cord which is arranged in the lateral side edge of the screen (2), etc.

In order to laterally tension the screen (2) by means of springs, this screen device (1) is furthermore provided with leaf springs (5) by means of which each screen guide (3) is connected to the respective lateral guide (4). In this case, several of such leaf springs (5) are preferably arranged distributed along the length of the screen guide (3), as can be seen in Figs. 8 and 9. The required number of leaf springs (5) per screen guide (3) may be determined on the basis of the type of screen (2) and the known loads which may act thereon.

The illustrated leaf spring (5) is made in one piece. This may be achieved, for example, by punching openings (24) in a sheet, which may be made of, for example, spring steel. As an alternative, such a spring (5) could also be made of, for example, plastic.

The leaf spring (5) comprises 3 legs (12, 13, 14) which are connected to each other at both their ends by means of a transverse strip (27).

Between its ends, each leg (12, 13, 14) is provided with a respective widened section (10, 1 1), as can be seen more clearly in Fig. 2, which in each case end on either side of each leg (12, 13, 14) in a respective fastening lip (8, 9), as can be seen more clearly in Fig. 5. The middle leg (12) is wider than the outer legs (13, 14), which are each of virtually the same width.

The construction of the leaf spring (5) is virtually symmetrical. On the side opposite the side in which said space (6) ends, the screen guide (3) comprises a fastening space (15) for accommodating the widened section (10) of the middle leg (12) of the leaf spring (5). This fastening space (15) comprises a slot- shaped access opening (16) which is delimited on either side by a shoulder (17) (see Fig. 4). In the fitted position, the fastening lips (8) of the widened section (10) of the middle leg (12) engage behind these shoulders (17) and the middle leg (12) extends through the slot-shaped access opening (16) on either side of this widened section (10), as can be seen in Fig. 7. Due to the fact that two fastening lips (8) engage behind a respective shoulder (17) on either side of the middle leg (12), it is difficult for the leaf spring (5) to come out of the fastening space (15) in the fitted position as a result of the loads acting on the screen (2).

The fastening space (15) extends along the entire length of the screen guide (3), so that the springs (5) may be fitted at any desired position along the screen guide (3). The screen guide (3) may be made of plastic or aluminium, for example by means of extrusion. On the side facing the screen (2), the lateral guide (4) comprises two fastening spaces (18), each for accommodating a respective widened section (1 1) of an outer leg (13, 14) of the leaf spring (5). Each of these fastening spaces (18) comprises a slot-shaped access opening (19) which is delimited on either side by a shoulder (20) (see Fig. 6). In the fitted position, the fastening lips (9) of the widened section (1 1) of the respective outer leg (13, 14) engage behind these shoulders (19) and each outer leg (13, 14) extends through the respective slot-shaped access opening (19) on either side of its widened section (1 1), as can be seen in Fig. 7. Due to the fact that in each case two fastening lips (9) engage behind a respective shoulder (19) on either side of each outer leg (13, 14), it is difficult for the leaf spring (5) to come out of the fastening spaces (18) in the fitted position as a result of the loads acting on the screen (2).

The fastening spaces (18) extend along the entire length of the lateral guide (4), so that the springs (5) may be fitted at any desired position along the lateral guide (4). The lateral guide (4) may be made of plastic or aluminium, for example by means of extrusion.

The illustrated lateral guide (4) has a virtually U-shaped cross section. This lateral guide (4) comprises a rear wall (23), two side walls (22) which are on either side with respect to this rear wall (23) and two shoulders (24) which, at the ends of the side walls (22) facing away from rear wall (23), extend towards each other. In this way, a space (28) is defined in the lateral guide (4). Said fastening spaces (18) of the lateral guide (4) are incorporated in the rear wall (23) and end in the middle space (28) of the lateral guide via their access openings (19).

The illustrated screen guide (3) comprises two flanges (7), which are arranged on both sides next to the shoulders (17) which delimit the access opening (16).

In the fitted position, the screen guide (3) is accommodated in the middle space (28) of the lateral guide (4), in which the flanges (7) of the screen guide (3) are arranged behind the shoulders (24) of the lateral guide (4), as can be seen in Fig. 7.

In this case, the screen guide (3) and the lateral guide (4) are connected to each other by means of the leaf springs (5). In order to connect the guides (3, 4) to each other in this way by means of the leaf springs (5), these leaf springs (5) can be arranged between the guides (3, 4) via the ends of the guides (3, 4), with their fastening lips (8, 9) in the respective fastening spaces (15, 18). To this end, the leaf springs (5) are preferably arranged in the fastening space (15) of the screen guide (3) via the end of the screen guide (3) with the fastening lips (8) of the middle leg (12). When the required leaf springs (5) have thus been fastened to the screen guide (3) at the required positions, as can be seen in Figs. 8 and 9, the screen guide (3) can then be arranged in the lateral guide (4), in which case the fastening lips (9) of the outer legs (13, 14) are in each case arranged in the respective fastening spaces (18) of the lateral guide (4).

In the fitted position, each leaf spring (5) extends substantially between the screen guide (3) and the lateral guide (4) in such a way that it is hidden from outside view in the fitted position. In this way, the leaf spring (5) is also configured in a very compact way, in which case it can transfer loads between the screen guide (3) and the lateral guide (4) in an optimum manner.

In a direction viewed at right angles to the screen (2), the fastening space (15) in the screen guide (3) and its access opening (16) are arranged at the location of the screen (2). Viewed in this direction, the fastening spaces (18) in the lateral guide (4) are arranged on either side of the screen (2), i.e. virtually symmetrical with respect to the screen (2). In this way, each leaf spring (5) fastened in these fastening spaces (15), (18) is arranged virtually symmetrically with respect to the screen (2). In this case, the legs (12, 13, 14) of each leaf spring (5) are arranged one behind the other, viewed in a direction at right angles to the plane of the screen (2), in which case their widened sections (10, 1 1) are also arranged one behind the other and at an intermediate distance apart.

Obviously, the illustrated leaf springs (5) and guides (3, 4) adapted to this end are only illustrations of a preferred embodiment and many alternatives thereof are possible. From the prior art, it will be clear to the person skilled in the art how a large number of variants of guides could be configured. A limited number of variants of leaf springs are given below, which will also immediately make it clear to the person skilled in the art how he could configure a large number of further variants of leaf springs.

Thus, it is for example possible to configure a leaf spring with three legs, in which case these legs are not connected to each other at their ends, but centrally. The necessary fastening lips may be provided at the ends of these legs, which may optionally form part of widened sections.

In a particularly simple variant, it is for example also possible to have a leaf spring with one single leg, which comprises a first fastening lip at its one end for accommodating in a fastening space in the screen guide and comprises a second fastening lip at its other end for accommodating in a fastening space in the lateral guide.

Furthermore, it is for example possible to configure a leaf spring with two legs which are connected to each other at their ends, so that they do not lie on top of each other in the fitted position. Widened sections may then be provided between these ends, which are arranged in respective spaces of the guides, so that the legs are centrally pulled apart in the fitted position.

Obviously, installation spaces in the guides have to be moved, reduced or added for the different variants of leaf springs, if necessary.