BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of lighting shades, and more particularly to a guided retractable opaque screen that when deployed reduces or eliminates glare emitted as a result of artificial lighting utilized in t-bar grid ceiling fixtures.
2. Description of Related Art
Interior buildings must be lit in some fashion, whether by means of artificial lights or natural lighting, for most people to conduct activities indoors. Regardless of whether the type of lighting is artificial or natural, it is essential to the conduct of human indoor activities in homes, businesses, stores, offices, schools, and so forth. In today's world, our hours of activity extend well before dawn and beyond sunset and are no longer limited by the fire-lit darkness that our ancestors faced before the advent of electricity.
With light comes heat, and so in homes, stores, warehouses, offices, schools, and various other buildings, incandescent lighting is often replaced with fluorescent light fixtures that reduce heat emission and that are less expensive to make and operate. The disadvantage, however, is the increased glare that fluorescent lights create on the monitor screens of computers, which are also standard features in modern homes and businesses. This glare can cause severe eye strain, headaches, and even eye damage from prolonged exposure.
Much prior art has been devoted to efforts for reducing glare. Many of these have developed covers that attach or are integrated into the computer monitor screen itself. Such devices include glare screens, electromagnetic screens, and framed opaque films.
In some prior art, various means have been developed for directing light emitted from a fixture away from the computer monitor screen, which has the effect of eliminating the glare. U.S. Reg. Pat. No. 5,733,036 teaches a two-layered stacked louvered light control for a fluorescent light fixture that is suspended from a ceiling grid and that can be manufactured as part of the light fixture or used to replace the lens of such a fixture. U.S. Reg. Pat. No. 5,806,967 teaches a light fixture with a shade having an elongated down-light aperture. U.S. Reg. Pat. No. 5,954,421 teaches a reflector that is used within a light fixture to focus the light more efficiently and a cover to make it more attractive.
Prior art has also developed roll-up shades that cover vertical window openings and that can be maneuvered to change the amount of light per unit area passing through the window covering. These devices include the popular horizontal mini-blinds having horizontal slats that can be raised and lowered over a window opening and when lowered can be rotated in concert with each other from a horizontal to a vertical position. U.S. Reg. Pat. No. 6,189,592 teaches a roll-up shade that provides for variations in opacity of the shade by movement of two parallel coverings with juxtaposed alternating patterns. U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,474 teaches a roll-up shade that can conform to the curve of an automobile window.
The problem with the prior art is that it is expensive and difficult to manufacture, and it is complicated to install. It is complex in its various parts and operation, tending to wear and break with constant daily use. Prior art with a vertical orientation will not operate when placed in a horizontal position, such as for purposes of shading ceiling fixtures. In addition, as lighting fixtures and computer monitor screens change from year to year with improvements in technology and changes for consumer taste and design, the prior art must also be continually redesigned so that it will fit or otherwise be usable with the newest technologies.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention consists of an assembly for a retractable screen that is securable to a T-bar of a grid ceiling at one side of a lighting fixture inset into such grid ceiling. Said retractable screen being capable of being unrolled horizontally from a self-winding roller, such as a spring-loaded roller, and secured in open position by means of fitting a pull-connector into a receiver S-clip that has been in turn secured to the T-bar of the grid ceiling on the side of the inset lighting fixture opposite of the retractable screen assembly. The assembly includes a stationary film cylinder, a film screen and U-shaped pull-connector, a spring-loaded roller, a screen pull-stick, and a receiver S-clip. In one embodiment of the present invention, the retractable screen is capable of being held in a partially open position by securing the pull-connector to receiving clips, self-adhering tape, or other attachment means set at regular intervals on the ceiling grid T-bars that are along the sides of the inset lighting fixture.
One object of the present invention is to provide an assembly that can be installed temporarily or permanently to cover a light source in a T-bar grid ceiling for purposes of reducing glare.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an assembly that can be used on the exterior of a light fixture frame.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide for an anti-glare screen that may be operated manually to eliminate glare or to increase light as desired temporarily, or that may be attached in a permanently open position as a shade across a source of light.
Further important objects of this present invention are to provide an anti-glare screen that is easy to mount onto a pre-existing T-bar grid ceiling, easy to operate and clean, inexpensive to manufacture, and durable for daily use.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 Perspective view of present invention from upper side having retractable screen extended horizontally.
FIG. 2 Perspective view of present invention from lower side having retractable screen extended horizontally.
FIG. 3 Side view of screen cylinder casing of present invention having retractable screen extended horizontally.
FIG. 4 Perspective view of screen cylinder casing of present invention having retractable screen retracted.
FIG. 5 Side view of screen cylinder casing of present invention having retractable screen retracted.
FIG. 6 End view of screen cylinder casing.
FIG. 7 Front view of screen cylinder casing.
FIG. 8 Front view of screen and retracting mechanism with screen cylinder casing removed.
FIG. 9 Side view of spring attachable to interior screen cylinder for retracting screen.
FIG. 10 End cap of interior screen cylinder.
FIG. 11 Perspective view of pull-connector from side that connects to retractable screen.
FIG. 12 End view of pull-connector.
FIG. 13 Perspective view of receiver S-clip.
FIG. 14 Side view of pull-stick.
FIG. 15 Side view of screen cylinder of present invention being attached to T-bar grid ceiling and having retractable screen extended below ceiling light fixture and secured in open position to receiver S-clip.
FIG. 16 View of lower side of retractable screen in extended position covering light fixture inset into T-bar grid ceiling.
FIG. 17 Perspective view of one embodiment of present invention showing attachment means set at regular intervals along side T-bar grid of lighting fixture to allow partial extension of retractable screen.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 illustrates the present invention in perspective view from the upper side with the retractable screen 10 extended horizontally from the cylinder casing 20. The cylinder casing 20 is further described in FIGS. 6 and 7, and the pull-connector 30 is further described in FIGS. 11 and 12. The screen 10 may be made of any opaque material that is thin and flexible so as to be capable of being rolled around a cylinder yet sufficiently durable so as to be capable of being retracted and extended a plurality of times daily. Preferred material for the screen would be a tinted oriented polyester film, cellulose acetate film, or other similar plastic film. The preferred thickness of the film is 0.005-inch gauge, although the gauge may range in thickness from 0.001 to 0.014 inch. The plastic film must be made non-transparent, preferably by means of tinting. Film tinting may be accomplished by any of a plurality of means, including gel coating, color tinting, imprinting, and lamination. The plastic film must also be heat resistant because of its proximity to a light-emitting source when extended.
The plastic film screen may be made in a plurality of sizes, with the preferable dimensions matching those of standard light fixtures that are inset in T-bar ceilings. Accordingly, the preferable size is 24 inches in width by 48 inches in length, although retractable screens may be made for smaller and larger fixtures as desired.
Referring to FIG. 2, the present invention is shown in a perspective view from the lower side with the retractable screen 10 extended. Two sides of the pull-connector 30 are visible from this view, the third side being hidden from sight. The pull-connector is further described in FIGS. 11 and 12. The retractable screen is pulled from the screen cylinder casing 20 through a slot 21 in the casing, which is described in more detail in FIGS. 6 and 7.
In FIG. 3, the present invention is shown from a side view with the retractable screen 10 extended. The end cap 22 of the screen cylinder casing 20 can be seen. The retractable screen is pulled from a slot 21 in the screen cylinder casing. On the upper side of the screen cylinder casing is a clip 23 that is integrally attached to the casing, such attachment being made by single molding of the casing, welding the clip to the casing, or otherwise. This clip serves as the device for attaching the cylinder casing to the grid ceiling T-bar, as shown in FIG. 15. It also serves to encase the U-shaped extension 31 of the pull-connector when the screen is retracted into the screen cylinder case, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
Referring to FIG. 4, a perspective view of the screen cylinder casing 20 of the present invention is shown, but with the retractable screen retracted. In this view, the retractable screen is not visible because it has been full retracted into the screen cylinder casing 20. The pull-connector 30 is completely retracted to the screen cylinder casing so that the U-shaped extension 31 of the pull-connector is inserted into the clip that is integrally attached to the screen cylinder casing 23.
FIG. 5 illustrates another view, this time from the side, of the screen cylinder casing 20 with the retractable screen completely retracted, and as such not visible in this view. The U-shaped extension 31 of the pull-connector can be seen inserted into the clip 23 of the screen cylinder casing 20. The pull-connector is in direct contact with the slot 21 in the screen cylinder casing. The fact that the screen can be completely retracted into the screen cylinder casing is of significant benefit because the screen is fully protected in this position. The screen cylinder casing can be easily installed, removed, moved, and reinstalled to a different position on a T-bar grid ceiling without damaging the retractable screen. In addition, the pull-connector is in a horizontal position by insertion into the screen cylinder clip so that it does not hang from the screen cylinder while the screen is retracted, and thus avoiding stress on the rewinding spring, prolonging the life of the unit, and eliminating bending or denting the retractable screen while the unit is in the closed position.
Referring to FIG. 6, an end view of the screen cylinder casing is illustrated. This view shows the end cap 22 of the cylinder, the slot 21 through which the screen is retracted or extended, and the integral cylinder clip 23. The screen cylinder casing is the outer cylinder that encases an inner axle and spring assembly around which the screen is wound while retracted. In one embodiment of the present invention, the axle may be seen through the end cap of the cylinder, while in another embodiment, the end cap is solid on the exterior of the casing such that the interior axle is not viewable. The cylinder is molded with a slot 21 in one side capable of allowing the extension and retraction of the screen. At the upper side of the screen cylinder casing and facing in the same direction as the slot, a clip 23 is integrally attached to the cylinder by one-piece molding, welding, or other means of attachment. This clip 23 serves as the device for attaching the cylinder casing to the grid ceiling T-bar and for holding the pull-connector when the screen is fully retracted, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The clip is made of sufficient size to allow for it to be slid onto a standard T-bar grid frame It is significant that this integral clip face the same direction as the slot because during extension of the screen there is pulling tension on the screen cylinder casing. If the clip were to face in the opposite direction of the screen slot, the pulling tension during extension of the screen would result in the screen cylinder casing being pulled off the T-bar of the ceiling. By facing in the same direction, the clip will always be pulled toward the T-bar during screen extension.
In FIG. 7, the screen cylinder casing 20 is illustrated from a front view, the front being the side of the cylinder from where the screen can be extended and extracted. In 20 this view, the integral clip 23 is shown at the upper side of the cylinder 20, and the slot 21 for extension of the screen is shown positioned at approximately the middle point of the cylinder side. On opposing ends of the cylinder casing is an end cap 22.
FIG. 8 illustrates the screen and retracting mechanism with the screen cylinder casing removed. The screen or film 10 is shown coiled around a central cylindrical axle 40. In this embodiment, a spring 41 is secured to the axle to the left of the wrapped screen 10. The spring may be secured to the right or left of the coiled screen. As the screen is extended, the spring tightens, creating tension. When the screen is released from the extended mode, the tension on the spring will be released also, causing the spring to loosen, which causes the axle to turn and wind the screen into the cylinder casing. In some cases, a second spring on the opposing side of the axle is incorporated. FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of the spring that is attachable to the axle on which the screen is wound for retraction into the interior of the screen cylinder.
One end cap 22 of the screen cylinder is illustrated in FIG. 10 in a slightly perspective view. The central cylindrical axle of the present invention (as shown in FIG. 8) is supported inside the screen cylinder casing by insertion of the opposing ends of the axle into the central holes 28 of two identical end caps.
Referring to FIG. 11, a perspective view of the pull-connector is illustrated from the side that connects to the retractable screen. The pull-connector is somewhat “U” shaped, having a horizontal bottom panel 33 that is attachable to the screen, a vertical panel 35 that allows for spacing between the screen and the ceiling light fixture, and a top horizontal panel 31 that is usable as a tab to fit into the receiver S-clip (see FIG. 13). The bottom panel 33 is pierced by a hole 38 at about the center of the panel for insertion of a stick by the operator of the present invention for purposes of extending and retracting the screen (see FIG. 16).
FIG. 12 shows an end view of the pull-connector. The screen or film 10 of the present invention is secured to the pull-connector along the edge of the bottom panel 33. It is securable by means of lamination, heat-resistant adhesive, or other means. The vertical panel 35 of the pull-connector and the horizontal tab 31 at the upper side of the pull-connector are shown in this embodiment with triangle supports 36, 37 for attachment, which support adds surface area and strength to the connection of these panels, improving durability of the pull-connector.
In FIG. 13, the receiver S-clip is shown in perspective view from one end. The receiver S-clip has two slots, the upper one 52 being attachable to a bar of a T-bar grid ceiling. When the receiver S-clip is attached to the T-bar, the lower slot 54 extends beneath the T-bar and the pull-connector tab 31 (see FIG. 11) is insertable into the lower slot. The receiver S-clip may be made of metal or hard plastic.
FIG. 14 illustrates a side view of the stick usable to operate the present invention. The present invention is usually placed overhead and only a few inches beneath a T-bar grid ceiling fixture, and therefore out-of-reach of many operators. To extend the screen, an operator may insert this stick into the hole in the bottom panel of the pull-connector (see FIG. 11) and pull the screen from the cylinder casing to extend it. The tension caused by the spring on the central axle will keep the screen under tension during extension so that the operator can easily move the screen under the receiver S-clip and insert the tab of the pull-connector into the lower slot of the receiver S-clip (see FIG. 15).
Referring to FIG. 15, the present invention is shown in use, being attached to T-bars of a T-bar grid ceiling 17, 18 on opposing sides of a ceiling light fixture 15 and being extended and secured in open position below the ceiling light fixture. The receiver S-clip 50 is secured by sliding the upper slot of the clip 52 onto a T-bar 18 at one side of the ceiling light fixture, while the screen cylinder casing 20 containing the retractable screen is secured by sliding its clip 23 onto a T-bar 17 at the opposing side of the ceiling light fixture. Said clips 20, 50 may be permanently secured to the T-bar ceiling or may be slid onto the T-bar without any permanent attachment, allowing the present invention to be easily removable and movable to another location.
When the screen 10 is in retracted mode, it winds inside the screen cylinder casing 20, the pull-connector 30 closes up to the screen cylinder casing 20, and the pull-connector tab 31 meets the T-bar clip 23 of the screen cylinder casing. In this FIG. 15, the screen 10 is shown in extended mode, having the pull-connector tab 31 being inserted into the lower slot 54 of the receiver S-clip. If the screen is out-of-reach of the operator, the operator may extend the screen by inserting the stick 70 into the center hole of the pull-connector 30 (see FIG. 11) and gently pulling the screen 10 out of the cylinder casing 20 to the receiver S-clip 50, moving the pull-connector tab 31 into position for insertion into the lower slot 54 of the receiver S-clip 50, and releasing the pull-connector from the stick. The operator may then store the stick in a convenient location until required again. In this figure, it can be seen that the screen 10 is spaced below the light fixture to allow for heat and air movement. The space below the light fixture is variable.
The present invention can be seen in FIG. 16 from beneath the lower side of the retractable screen 10 in extended position covering a light fixture inset into a T-bar grid ceiling. This is the view that would be seen by an operator or user of the present invention when the screen is in extended mode. The screen cylinder casing 20 would be attached to the T-bar 17 of the grid ceiling on one side of the ceiling light fixture, the screen 10 would extend across the light fixture, and the pull-connector 50 would be secured by means of the receiver S-clip (not seen from this view) to the opposing T-bar 18 of the grid ceiling. The hole 38 for insertion of the stick usable by the operator to extend and retract the screen (see FIG. 14) can also be seen in the pull-connector 50 from this view.
FIG. 17 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention in which at least one attachment means 82, 84 is included to allow for the screen 10 to be partially extended from the screen cylinder casing 20. Various attachment means may be used for partial extension, including Velcro® strips, other self-adhering strips, or metal or plastic hooks or tabs. Said attachment means are secured to the opposing side T-bars 16, 19 of the ceiling grid and are in correspondence with the pull-connector 50 such that the pull-connector may be held in position with the screen partially extended.
