US20070107853A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20070107853A1
Application number: US11/281,021
Authority: US
Inventors: Duan-Cheng Hsieh
Original assignee: Habitex Corp
Current assignee: Habitex Corp
Priority date: 2005-11-17
Filing date: 2005-11-17
Publication date: 2007-05-17

Abstract

A folding screen includes top and bottom folders, and a plurality of upright posts. Each folder includes a plurality of links which are interconnected in an end-to-end manner and which are foldable one over the other, at least one hinge unit interconnecting two adjacent ends of two adjacent ones of the links, and two endmost connectors connected respectively to two outermost ends of the links. The two adjacent ends of the two adjacent ones of the links are connected pivotally to each other. One upright post has top and bottom ends connected respectively to the hinge units of the top and bottom folders. Top ends of two other upright posts are connected respectively to the endmost connectors of the top folder. Bottom ends of the two other upright posts are connected respectively to the endmost connectors of the bottom folder.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a folding screen, more particularly to a modular folding screen.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, aconventional folding screen1 includes fourpanels12, and fourwooden frames11 enclosing respectively thepanels12. Lateral edges of two adjacent ones of thewooden frames11 are connected pivotally to each other byhinges13 so that thewooden frames11 can pivot relative to each other from an unfolded state shown inFIG. 1 to a folded state shown inFIG. 2.

Although theconventional folding screen1 can be folded to facilitate storage and transport, the volume of theconventional folding screen1 when folded is still large, so that it does not only occupy a relatively large space, but is also inconvenient to transport.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a modular folding screen that can be easily assembled and disassembled by the user so as to reduce the volume of the folding screen, thereby facilitating its storage and transport.

According to one aspect of this invention, a folding screen comprises a folder, at least one hinge unit, two endmost connectors, and a plurality of upright posts. The folder includes a plurality of links which are interconnected in an end-to-end manner. Two adjacent ones of the links have two adjacent ends that are connected pivotally to each other. The links are foldable one over the other. The hinge unit interconnects the two adjacent ends of the two adjacent ones of the links. The endmost connectors are connected respectively to two outermost ends of the links. One of the upright posts is connected to the hinge unit. Another two of the upright posts are connected respectively to the endmost connectors.

According to another aspect of this invention, a folding screen comprises top and bottom folders, and a plurality of upright posts. Each of the top and bottom folders includes a plurality of links which are interconnected in an end-to-end manner, at least one hinge unit, and two endmost connectors. Two adjacent ones of the links have two adjacent ends that are connected pivotally to each other. The hinge unit interconnects the two adjacent ends of the two adjacent ones of the links. The endmost connectors are connected respectively to two outermost ends of the links. The links are foldable one over the other. Each of the upright posts has top and bottom ends. The top end of one of the upright posts is connected to the hinge unit of the top folder, whereas the bottom end of said one of the upright posts is connected to the hinge unit of the bottom folder. The top ends of another two of the upright posts are connected respectively to the endmost connectors of the top folder, whereas the bottom ends of said another two of the upright posts are connected respectively to the endmost connectors of the bottom folder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional folding screen in an unfolded state;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the conventional folding screen in a folded state;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a modular folding screen according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of a hinge unit of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the first preferred embodiment in an assembled state, but without screen members;

FIG. 6 is an assembled fragmentary schematic view of the first preferred embodiment, illustrating how a screen member is mounted on links of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a view similar toFIG. 6, but illustrating an alternative method of mounting the screen member on the corresponding links;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of an alternative form of the hinge unit of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 9 is an assembled fragmentary sectional view of the first preferred embodiment incorporating the hinge unit ofFIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a modular folding screen according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of the second preferred embodiment in an assembled state;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the third preferred embodiment of a modular folding screen according to the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary schematic view of the third preferred embodiment in an assembled state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS.3 to6, the first preferred embodiment of amodular folding screen2 according to the present invention is shown to comprise top andbottom folders3, fourupright posts4, and three screen members6 (only one is shown inFIG. 6).

Since the top andbottom folders3 are similar in construction, only the construction of thetop folder3 is described hereinafter for the sake of simplicity. Thetop folder3 includes a plurality of first and second links or

rods

31,32, which are interconnected end to end and alternately, twohinge units33, and twoendmost connectors312. While twofirst links31 and onesecond link32 are used in this embodiment, if a longer foldingscreen2 is desired, thesecond link32 may be increased in number.

The twofirst links31 have respectiveoutermost ends311′, and thesecond link32 is disposed between thefirst links31. Twoends321 of thesecond link32 are connected respectively toadjacent ends311 of the twofirst links31 and to two of theupright posts4 by means of the twohinge units33. Since the twohinge units33 have the same construction, only one of thehinge units33 is described hereinafter with reference toFIG. 4.

As shown inFIG. 4, eachhinge unit33 includes a pair of spaced-apartfirst hinge rings323 connected to theend321 of thesecond link32, a pair of spaced-apartsecond hinge rings315 connected to theend311 of eachfirst link31, atubular member331, and a hinge fastener5 (seeFIG. 3). Eachtubular member331 is inserted into the first and

second hinge rings

323,315 after the first and

second hinge rings

323,315 are intermeshed. Twopacking members82 are disposed respectively above and below the first and

second hinge rings

323,315 so as to couple pivotally thesecond link32 to the correspondingfirst link31, so that the first and

second links

31,32 are foldable relative to each other. Thehinge fastener5 has ahead51, and astem52 having a screw thread. Thestem52 of thehinge fastener5 extends through one of thepacking members82, thetubular member331, and theother packing member82, and engages threadedly ascrew hole411 in atop end41 of the corresponding upright post4 (seeFIG. 5) so that thehinge unit33 is secured on top of the correspondingupright post4.

Theendmost connectors312 are connected respectively to theoutermost ends311′ of thefirst links31, and are disposed respectively on top ends of two outer ones of theupright posts4. Eachendmost connector312 has aconnector body3121 formed with athrough hole314, and aretainer5′. Theretainer5′ is similar to eachhinge fastener5 in construction, and has ahead51′, and astem52′ that has a screw thread and that extends through the throughhole314 in theconnector body3121 so as to engage threadedly ascrew hole411 in the top end of the correspondingupright post4 so that eachendmost connector312 is secured on top of the correspondingupright post4. Apacking member82 is disposed between eachconnector body3121 and thehead51′ of thecorresponding retainer5′, and anotherpacking member82 is disposed between eachconnector body3121 and the top end of the correspondingupright post4.

Each of thescreen members6 is disposed between two adjacent ones of the

upright posts

4,4′. In this embodiment, eachscreen member6 is made of a fabric material, but may also be made of any soft material that is non-transparent or that has different patterns formed thereon. Eachscreen member6 has a top end provided with atop fastening unit81 fastened to a corresponding one of the first and

second links

31,32 of thetop folder3, and a bottom end provided with a bottom fastening unit (not shown) fastened to a corresponding one of the first and

second links

31,32 of thebottom folder3. The top andbottom fastening units81 are Velcro (RTM) fasteners having a plurality of hooks and loops. Alternatively, thefastening units81 may be male and female snap fasteners, or other suitable fasteners.

During assembly, after thehinge units33 and theendmost connectors312 of the top andbottom folders3 are fixed to the top and bottom ends of the correspondingupright posts4, the top and bottom ends of two of thescreen members6 are fastened to thefirst links31 of the top andbottom folders3, and the top and bottom ends of the remaining one of thescreen members6 are fastened to thesecond links32 of the top andbottom folders3. To perform disassembly, thehinge units33 and theendmost connectors312 of the top andbottom folders3 are separated from the top and bottom ends of the correspondingupright posts4 by simply loosening and removing thehinge fasteners5 and theretainers5′ from the screw holes411,421 in the top and bottom ends of the corresponding upright posts4. Hence, assembly and disassembly of thefolding screen2 of the present invention are simple and easy. Further, since the top andbottom folders3 are foldable, storage and transport of thefolding screen2 are convenient. Moreover, by varying the patterns on thescreen members6, the appearance of thefolding screen2 can be enhanced.

To use thefolding screen2 of the present invention, thefolding screen2 is first supported on the ground through thehinge fasteners5 and theretainers5′ of thebottom folder3, after which the user pulls outwardly the two outer ones of theupright posts4 so as to pivot the first and

second links

31,32 of the top andbottom folders3. Thefolding screen2 can be totally unfolded to form a straight line, or partially unfolded, as shown inFIG. 3.

It should be noted that thepacking members82 provided in association with theendmost connectors312 and thehinge units33 serve to prevent direct contact between theendmost connectors312 and the correspondingupright posts4 and between thehinge units33 and the corresponding upright posts4. Theheads51′,51 of theretainers5′ and thehinge fasteners5 of thebottom folder3 serve to support theupright posts4 on the ground.

Referring toFIG. 7, the top end of eachscreen member6 may be initially folded and sewn to form atop sleeve61 for receiving the correspondingfirst link31 or thesecond link32 of thetop folder3, and the bottom end of eachscreen member6 maybe initially folded and sewn to form abottom sleeve61 for receiving the correspondingfirst link31 or thesecond link32 of thebottom folder3. Thus, during assembly, thefirst links31 or thesecond links32 of the top andbottom folders3 are first inserted into the top andbottom sleeves61 of thecorresponding screen member6 prior to fastening of thehinge units33 and theendmost connectors312 by thehinge fasteners5 and theretainers5′ to the corresponding upright posts4.

Referring toFIGS. 8 and 9, to reduce the number of components and to minimize the cost of thefolding screen2, thetubular members331 may be dispensed with, and thestem52 of eachhinge fastener5 may be partially threaded. Hence, when the first and

second rings

323,315 of eachhinge unit33 of the top andbottom folders3 are intermeshed and are placed on the top or bottom end of the correspondingupright post4, thestem52 of eachhinge fastener5 is inserted through the corresponding packingmember82, the first and

second rings

323,315, another corresponding packingmember82, and engages threadedly the

screw hole

411,421 in the top or bottom end of the correspondingupright post4, thereby securing eachhinge unit33 on the top or bottom end of the correspondingupright post4.

Referring toFIGS. 10 and 11, the second preferred embodiment of themodular folding screen2 according to the present invention is shown to be similar to the first preferred embodiment. However, in this embodiment, thefolding screen2 further comprises fourcoupling units7 each having aflange portion71, and two threadedshanks72 extending outwardly and respectively from two opposite sides of theflange portion71. Thesecoupling units7 can permit the user to increase the height of thefolding screen2 as desired/required. Each of theupright posts4 has upper and

lower sections

401,402. Eachcoupling unit7 interconnects detachably the upper and

lower sections

401,402 of the correspondingupright post4 through engagement of the threadedshanks72 of thecoupling unit7 with the screw holes421,411 in the upper and

lower sections

401,402 of the correspondingupright post4. Thus, thefolding screen2 in this embodiment has a height higher than that in the first preferred embodiment.

An alternative method for increasing the height of thefolding screen2 of the present invention is shown inFIG. 12. Thefolding screen2 is provided with anintermediate folder3′ that is similar in construction to the top andbottom folders3 of the first preferred embodiment and that interconnects detachably the upper and

lower sections

401,402 of the upright posts4. Since the connection of theintermediate folder3′ is similar to that of either the top orbottom folder3 of the first preferred embodiment, a detailed description of the same is dispensed herewith for the sake of brevity. In this case, as shown inFIG. 13, eachscreen member6′ may be in the form of a plate, each of the first and

second links

31,32 of each of the top andbottom folders3 may be provided with anelongate groove317, and each of the first andsecond links31′,32′ of theintermediate folder3′, may be provided with upper and lowerelongate grooves317′. Eachscreen member6′ is inserted into the

corresponding grooves

317,317′ in the

first links

31,31′ or the

second links

32,32′ of the top, bottom, and

intermediate folders

3,3′.

From the aforementioned descriptions, it is apparent that due to the configuration of thefolding screen2 of the present invention, assembly and disassembly of thefolding screen2 is quick and easy. Furthermore, through variations that can be made on the connections of the

screen members

6,6′ with the top, bottom, and

intermediate folders

3,3′, and on the connections of thecoupling units7 with the upper and

lower sections

401,402 of theupright posts4, thefolding screen2 of the present invention can be assembled to form various structures.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A folding screen comprising:

a folder including a plurality of links which are interconnected in an end-to-end manner, two adjacent ones of said links having two adjacent ends that are connected pivotally to each other, said links being foldable one over the other;

at least one hinge unit interconnecting said two adjacent ends of said two adjacent ones of said links;

two endmost connectors connected respectively to two outermost ends of said links; and

a plurality of upright posts, one of said upright posts being connected to said hinge unit, another two of said upright posts being connected respectively to said endmost connectors.

2. The folding screen as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising a plurality of screen members each disposed between two adjacent ones of said upright posts.

3. The folding screen as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said hinge unit includes a pair of spaced-apart first hinge rings connected to one of said two adjacent ends of said links, and a pair of spaced-apart second hinge rings connected to the other one of said two adjacent ends of said links, said first and second hinge rings being intermeshed and placed on top of said one of said upright posts, said hinge unit further including a hinge fastener extending through said first and second hinge rings and fixed to said one of said upright posts.

4. The folding screen as claimed inclaim 3, wherein said hinge fastener has a head, and a stem extending through said first and second hinge rings, said stem having a screw thread to engage threadedly said one of said upright posts.

5. The folding screen as claimed inclaim 4, wherein said hinge unit further includes a tubular member inserted into said first and second hinge rings around said stem.

6. The folding screen as claimed inclaim 1, wherein each of said endmost connectors has a connector body disposed on a corresponding one of said another two of said upright posts, and a retainer extending through said connector body and engaging threadedly said corresponding one of said another two of said upright posts.

7. The folding screen as claimed inclaim 6, wherein said retainer has a head, and a stem extending through said connector body to engage threadedly said corresponding one of said another two of said upright posts.

8. A folding screen comprising:

top and bottom folders, each of said top and bottom folders including

a plurality of links which are interconnected in an end-to-end manner, two adjacent ones of said links having two adjacent ends that are connected pivotally to each other,

at least one hinge unit interconnecting said two adjacent ends of said two adjacent ones of said links, and

two endmost connectors connected respectively to two outermost ends of said links, said links being foldable one over the other; and

a plurality of upright posts each having top and bottom ends, said top end of one of said upright posts being connected to said hinge unit of said top folder, said bottom end of said one of said upright posts being connected to said hinge unit of said bottom folder, said top ends of another two of said upright posts being connected respectively to said endmost connectors of said top folder, said bottom ends of said another two of said upright posts being connected respectively to said endmost connectors of said bottom folder.

9. The folding screen as claimed inclaim 8, further comprising a plurality of screen members each disposed between two adjacent ones of said upright posts.

10. The folding screen as claimed inclaim 9, wherein each of said screen members is made of a fabric material, and has a top end formed with a top sleeve for receiving a corresponding one of said links of said top folder, and a bottom end formed with a bottom sleeve for receiving a corresponding one of said links of said bottom folder.

11. The folding screen as claimed inclaim 9, wherein each of said screen members is made of a fabric material, and has a top end provided with a top fastening unit to be fastened to a corresponding one of said links of said top folder, and a bottom end provided with a bottom fastening unit to be fastened to a corresponding one of said links of said bottom folder.

12. The folding screen as claimed inclaim 9, wherein each of said screen members is a plate having top and bottom ends connected respectively to said top and bottom folders.

13. The folding screen as claimed inclaim 8, further comprising an intermediate folder that is similar in construction to said top and bottom folders, each of said upright posts having upper and lower sections which are connected to said intermediate folder.

14. The folding screen as claimed inclaim 8, wherein each of said upright posts has upper and lower sections, said upper and lower sections being interconnected detachably.