Abstract: A screen assembly is configured to permit installation in various different sized windows having various different window socket dimensions. The screen assembly includes: a frame, a mesh secured to the frame, at least one expander member, and a biasing member, which may be a spring. The expander member is mounted to a first side of the frame, and configured to slide with respect to the frame between a fully retracted position, a fully extended position, and a plurality of intermediate positions. The biasing member biases the expander member toward the fully extended position. The range of sliding distances for the expander member relative to the fixed frame portion thereby provides a variable lateral extent for the screen assembly permitting its installation into various different sized windows having various different window socket dimensions.

Abstract: A screen making machine includes a table, welder assembly, and actuation assembly. The welder assembly includes: a hot air nozzle, a pump, and a roller. The actuation system moves the welder assembly along the frame. Hot air from the nozzle elevates the temperature of the mesh and adjacent frame to an elevated temperature above a melt temperature of the surfaces of the mesh and frame. The roller presses the melted mesh surface against the melted frame surface, to melt fuse them together.

Abstract: A screen assembly is configured to permit installation in various different sized windows having various different window socket dimensions. The screen assembly includes: a frame, a mesh secured to the frame, at least one expander member, and a biasing member, which may be a spring. The expander member is mounted to a first side of the frame, and configured to slide with respect to the frame between a fully retracted position, a fully extended position, and a plurality of intermediate positions. The biasing member biases the expander member toward the fully extended position. The range of sliding distances for the expander member relative to the fixed frame portion thereby provides a variable lateral extent for the screen assembly permitting its installation into various different sized windows having various different window socket dimensions.

Abstract: A screen assembly includes a frame, mesh, and leaf springs. The frame has spaced apart first and second holes; a third hole mid-way therebetween; and a fourth hole coaxial with the third hole. The leaf spring's curved central portion terminates in curved first and second ends, with first and second hooks proximate to those ends, which hooks are releasably received within the first and second holes, to couple the leaf spring to the frame. A plunger pin cantilevers away from the curved central portion, and is slidably received through the third and fourth holes. A handle member is secured to the plunger pin, and movable between first and second positions to alter the leaf spring's shape, to provide for retention of the curved leaf spring in a socket of a master frame of a window/door, and alternatively permit removal or installation of the screen assembly.

Abstract: A screen making machine includes a table, welder assembly, and actuation assembly. The welder assembly includes: first and second nozzles, a pump that pumps air through each nozzle, and a roller. The first nozzle, second nozzle, and roller are positioned in line and spaced apart. The actuation system moves the welder assembly along each side of the frame. Hot air from the first nozzle elevates a temperature of the mesh and adjacent frame to a first elevated temperature, and subsequent flow of hot air from the second nozzle elevates them to a second elevated temperature, being above a melt temperature of the surfaces of the mesh and frame. The roller presses the melted mesh surface against the melted frame surface, to melt fuse them together. A top surface of the table is heated to thereby heat a second side of the frame, facilitating better welds.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A reduced, visibility window/door screen includes a particularly formed narrow profile frame and mesh applied to the frame. The frame is formed from a single elongated member that is bent to form four corners and four corresponding sides, with joining of the adjacent first and second ends. A high-strength adhesive bonds the mesh to the frame, which is pinch rolled thereon for exceptional pull-out strength. Another embodiment includes a leaf spring movably secured to the frame, to bias and center the screen within the master frame. Another embodiment further includes a plunger pin slidably disposed in the frame with one end fixedly secured to the leaf spring, and handle movably connected to the other end of the plunger pin. The handle member being movable between first and second positions to respectively actuate the leaf spring between an undeformed condition, and a deformed, flattened condition permitting installation/removal of the screen.

Abstract: A reduced, visibility window/door screen includes a particularly formed narrow profile frame and mesh applied to the frame. The frame is formed from a single elongated member that is bent to form four corners and four corresponding sides, with joining of the adjacent first and second ends. A high-strength adhesive bonds the mesh to the frame, which is pinch rolled thereon for exceptional pull-out strength. Another embodiment includes a leaf spring movably secured to the frame, to bias and center the screen within the master frame. Another embodiment further includes a plunger pin slidably disposed in the frame with one end fixedly secured to the leaf spring, and handle movably connected to the other end of the plunger pin. The handle member being movable between first and second positions to respectively actuate the leaf spring between an undeformed condition, and a deformed, flattened condition permitting installation/removal of the screen.

Abstract: A particularly formed frame and corresponding adapters permit installation of a screen assembly into different windows or doors having different socket widths, reducing the required number of SKUs that need to be stocked. The adapter includes: a base portion; a stem portion; and a bulb portion. The frame includes a plurality of recesses, each configured to slidably receive an adapter therein. The width of the frame is sized to be received in a first door/window socket having a first socket width. When a first sized adapter having a first bulb size is installed in each recess, the width of the frame and the protruding distance of the first bulb size are configured to be received in a second door/window socket having a second socket width. A second sized adapter having a second bulb size may instead be installed for use in a second door/window socket having a second socket width.

Abstract: A reduced visibility window/door screen includes a particularly formed narrow profile frame and mesh applied to the frame. The frame is formed from a single elongated member that is bent to form four corners and four corresponding sides, with joining of the adjacent first and second ends. A high-strength adhesive bonds the mesh to the frame, which is pinch rolled thereon for exceptional pull-out strength. Another embodiment includes a leaf spring movably secured to the frame, to bias and center the screen within the master frame. Another embodiment further includes a plunger pin slidably disposed in the frame with one end fixedly secured to the leaf spring, and handle movably connected to the other end of the plunger pin. The handle member being movable between first and second positions to respectively actuate the leaf spring between an undeformed condition, and a deformed, flattened condition permitting installation/removal of the screen.

Abstract: Flexible 1/4 inch diameter plastic tubing is buried horizontally below the surface of the ground. Water or air is forced in the tubing to expand the tubing and make the cavities, that the tubing is in, 1/4 inch in diameter. Then the water or air is sucked out of the tubing so that hollow earth-walled cavities 1/4 inch in diameter are left with the plastic tubing occupying only a small fraction of the volume of the cavities. This produces a system of worm holes over the field that will drain excess water after rains. In drouths irrigation water is introduced through the worm holes. Air is blown in the worm holes to aerate the soil at other times, all of which greatly increase plant growth. By guaranteeing that the ground always will be moist the thermal conductivity of the ground will always be near the maximum around the worm holes. Therefore part of the tunes can always be used to pass water through so the water can be cooled or warmed with the ground being used for a source of heat or cooling efficiently.

Abstract: Cooling water at 39.degree. F is made available at low cost all year round by erecting towers in farmer's fields and spraying the water in the air around the towers to cool the water during the winter. The cooled water is collected and stored in a lake. During the summer the same towers and water spraying system is used to act as a permanent irrigation system with the water from the lake sprayed when needed on the farmer's crops. Since the users of the cold water from the lake for cooling water have to and can easily afford to pay for the whole system, which includes a very good drainage system, farmers will greatly profit and therefore greatly favor the installation of such a system on their farms.

Abstract: In a solar heat collecting and storage system in which mirrors reflect sunlight on a heat storing material such as a pile of pebbles, with air being drawn into the pile of pebbles so the heat accumulating on the surface of the pile is drawn into the center of the pile of pebbles, is located an artificial light of the correct color so that it will produce crop growth. When the sun is not shining the mirrors, that have been used to collect solar heat, are used to reflect this artificial light over growing crops and thus produce crop yields greater than normal.

Abstract: A high efficiency liquid-liquid heat exchanger is made by imbedding 1 mill polyester plastic film in a mass of quartz pebbles. The quartz pebbles are 0.125 to 0.25 inches in diameter and are placed in 0.25 to 0.5 inches thick layers between the plastic sheets. The two liquids flow on alternate sides of the sheets and the flows of the liquids are given a 90.degree. angular spiral flow in relation to each other by strips of plastic cemented between the sheets. In this way a stream tube, or small division of the main flow of one of the liquids, is heated by short elements of a large number of stream tubes of the other liquid and the effects of uneven placement of the pebbles and the resulting channeling of the liquids are overcome. Heat transfer coefficients as high as several hundred BTU's per degree Fahrenheit per hour per square foot of plastic surface have been easily obtained with very low pressure drops. The plastic sheets and quartz pebbles are very cheap and the heat exchanger is easily assembled.