Extendable support braces for a screened enclosure

Abstract

A diagonal support brace for a screened enclosure of the type having a plurality of laterally spaced apart frames extending over a recreational area. The support brace comprises an outer tubular portion and an inner tubular portion slidably received in the outer tubular portion. The support brace includes a frame attachment at a first end of the brace for attaching to an upper portion of the frame and an anchor attachment at a second end of brace for selectively attaching to a lower portion of the frame or to a surface of the recreational area.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/596,293 filed on Sep. 14, 2005 and provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/597,218 filed on Nov. 17, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to screened enclosures and more particularly to support braces for screened enclosures.

DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART

With increasing frequency, homeowners are installing outdoor activity areas such as swimming pools in immediate proximity to their homes. In order to maximize usage, screened enclosures are installed to keep bothersome insects away from these outdoor areas. These enclosures are generally comprised of a lightweight framework over which is affixed a mesh screen of sufficient density to keep out insects, but retaining sufficient porosity to permit a degree of airflow therethrough.

The enclosures are typically constructed of a series of laterally spaced apart frames extending perpendicularly from and affixed to the side of the house such as the fascia of an eave, bridging over the recreational area or swimming pool to be enclosed, and then extending to ground level on the side of the pool opposite from the house. By necessity, to permit unobstructed usage of the area, the enclosures have no intermediate supports between the house and the outermost edge of the enclosure.

Screened enclosures of this type are most frequently found in southern climates and more particularly in proximity to coastal areas where the temperature is sufficiently warm to permit year around usage. Because of the warmer climate these areas concurrently experience an increased number of insects thereby necessitating the usage of the enclosure. Unfortunately, these areas are also subject to severe weather including very high winds such as hurricanes. In order for these enclosures to be affordable and cover the expanse of a swimming pool, they are of necessity lightweight construction and inherently unable to withstand the wind forces of major storms. When a major storm strikes with high winds, these screened enclosures often are heavily damaged or torn away from its attachment to the house and ground.

Thus, what is desired is a system of bracing that can strengthen and anchor a screened enclosure during periods of high winds and during period of calm is stowable such that the covered recreational area remains unobstructed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is an extendable support brace for a recreational enclosure of the type having a plurality of laterally spaced apart frames extending over a defined area. The support brace includes an extendable tube having an upper end and a lower end and is adjustable between a retracted stowed length and an extended anchoring length. A pivoting clevis is affixed to the upper end for attaching the support brace to an upper portion of one of the frames of the enclosure, and an anchor attachment is located at the lower end for selectively attaching to a lower portion of the frame or to a surface of the defined area.

Another aspect of the present invention is a support brace for a screened enclosure of the type having a plurality of laterally spaced apart frames extending over a recreational area. The support brace comprises an outer tubular portion and an inner tubular portion slidably received in the outer tubular portion. The support brace includes a frame attachment at a first end of the brace for attaching to an upper portion of the frame and n anchor attachment at a second end of brace for selectively attaching to a lower portion of the frame or to a surface of the recreational area.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is a screened enclosure for enclosing a recreational area such as a swimming pool. The screened enclosure comprises a plurality of laterally spaced frames extending across the width of the recreational area and a plurality of longitudinal members extending between adjacent ones of the frames thereby maintaining the frames in a fixed spaced apart relationship. A mesh screen extends over and covers the assembled framework for the purpose of keeping insects out of the interior of the enclosure. Two support braces are affixed to each frame. Each support brace has one end pivotably affixed to a top portion of the frame and a second end of a first of the support braces affixed to a first side portion of the frame and a second end of a second of the support braces affixed to an opposite side portion of the frame. The second ends of the support braces are repositionable from the side portions of the frames to an anchor position on a peripheral portion of the recreational area.

Yet a further aspect of the present invention is a bracing system for a screened enclosure frame attached to a supporting foundation. The bracing system comprises a plurality of first adjustable braces and second adjustable braces. The first adjustable braces are repeatably adjustable between an extended and retracted position. Each of the first adjustable braces has a first end thereof adapted for pivotal attachment to a first part of the screened enclosure frame and a second end adapted for alternating attachment to a second portion of the screened enclosure frame in its retracted position and to the supporting foundation in its extended position. Each of the second adjustable braces has a first end and a second end and are adjustable to fit between first and second screened enclosure frame members for permanent attachment of both ends of the second adjustable braces to the screened enclosure frame members.

These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification,. claims and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a screened enclosure embodying the present invention directed to telescoping diagonal support braces, and wherein the screened enclosure is shown attached to a house and covering a recreational area, with the support braces in a retracted, stowed position;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation view of the screened enclosure illustrating the diagonal and adjustable support braces in an extended position;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the adjustable support brace shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded partial cross-sectional view of the pivoting clevis mounted to the enclosure frame taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the deck clevis affixed to the concrete deck of a pool taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the stowing clevis mounted to the enclosure frame taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partially cut-away perspective view of the screened enclosure frame incorporating K-braces and purlin braces;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a K-brace;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a corner cleat for attachment of the extendable end of the K-brace;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of angled end cleat for attaching the extendable end of a purlin brace to the frame structure of the screened enclosure; and

FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of the extendable end of a purlin brace shown being attached to a frame member of the screened enclosure.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 2. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with preferred and practical embodiments thereof, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are fully contemplated within the spirit and scope of the invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a house 20 having a screened enclosure 30 attached thereto which is one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and illustrates its various components. House 20 has an adjacent swimming pool 26 surrounded by a deck 28 which is typically made of concrete. House 20 has an eave 22 extending toward swimming pool 26 and has a fascia board 24 at an outer edge thereof. A screened enclosure 30 is connected to and extends from the fascia board 24, over swimming pool 26, and substantially covers the deck 28.

Screened enclosure 30 has a plurality of frames 32 which extend substantially perpendicular to eave 22 of house 20. Frames 32 are laterally spaced one from another and maintained in a spaced apart relationship by upper longitudinal stringers 44 and intermediate longitudinal stringers 46 extending between adjacent frames 32. Each frame 32 has an inner angled leg 42 having one end attached to fascia board 24 and an opposite end attached to upper frame member 40 which in turn is affixed to outer angled leg 38 and in combination forms an upper frame portion. The outermost portion of angled leg 38 is supported by vertical leg 36 which is affixed to the surface of the deck 28 or, alternatively, on the ground adjacent to the outmost edge of the deck.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, each frame 32 has two support braces 50 attached thereto. An upper end of each support brace 50 is attached to upper frame member 40 with pivoting devises 52. Additionally, a lower end of each support brace 50 is attached to a stowing clevis 54 that remains affixed to angled legs 38 and 42. A clevis 56 remains attached to the lower end of the support brace 50 and mates with the clevis 54 to attach the support brace in the stowed position, as seen in FIG. 1. While support braces 50 are extendable, as described further herein, when the support braces 50 are in their stowed position they are fixed in a collapsed configuration (see FIG. 2). In combination with the upper frame portion, the stowed support braces 50 form a truss configuration with support braces 50 forming a lower chord of the truss, thereby strengthening the trapezoidal upper frame portion.

Turning now to FIG. 2, in the event of threatening weather having potentially high winds, support braces 50 comprising an extendable tube 58 can be seen in their extended anchored position. Lower ends 78 of support braces 50 with the attached deck clevis 56 have been detached from stowing devises 54. Fixing pin 70 has been removed to allow inner tubular member 62 to telescopically slide within outer tubular member 60 and extend to reach deck 28. The extended support braces 50 now anchor the central upper portion 40 of the frame structure to the concrete deck 28, thus supporting and preventing the wind from overstressing the frame members over the expanse of swimming pool 26 and deck 28.

FIG. 3 illustrates one of the preferred embodiments of the extendable support brace 50. Support brace 50 includes outer tubular portion 60 defining an inner channel 65 in which is received inner tubular portion 62. A pair of stop cables 160 extends along the interior of support brace 50. Each stop cable has a loop 162 secured by swage 163 and looped around upper attach bolt 130 securing support brace 50 to pivot clevis 52. Stop cables 160 extend into inner tubular portion 62 where lower cable ends 161 are swaged together with swage 163. A countersunk screw 164 passes through the interior of inner tubular portion 62 and engages the loop formed by the swaged cable ends 161 thereby limiting the extension of support brace 50.

Turning now to FIG. 4, pivoting clevis 52 is illustrated in an exploded configuration. A fixed clevis 118 includes a base 114 and laterally spaced clevis legs 117. Clevis legs 117 are laterally spaced to receive upper frame member 40 therebetween. Fixed clevis 118 is attached to upper frame member 40 with bolt 130, washer 131, and nut 132 extending through holes 116 in the upper frame member 40. Pivot clevis 120 has a base 121 positioned adjacent base 114 of fixed clevis 118 and separated therefrom by intermediate washer 124 having a low friction surface such as nylon. A single pin such as bolt 122, washers 123, and nut 125 affix devises 118 and 120 in a back-to-back relationship. Bolt 122 defines a pivoting axis for pivoting clevis 120 to pivot with respect to fixed clevis 118. Pivot clevis 120 includes clevis legs 129 laterally spaced to receive upper end 66 of outer tubular portion 60 therebetween and is affixed with a bolt 130, washer 131 and nut 132 through attach holes 128 and lateral hole 70. Bolt 130 defines a rotation axis for outer tubular portion 60 to rotate with respect to pivot clevis 120.

FIG. 5 illustrates the attachment of deck clevis 56 to deck 28 and to the lower end 78 of inner tubular portion 62. Deck clevis 56 includes a base with horizontal flanges 90 extending away from vertical clevis legs 92. Deck clevis 56 is affixed to deck 28 by inserting an expansion sleeve, anchor or other hardware element 100 into deck 28 and driving a lag bolt or like fastener 102 through flange 90 and into anchor sleeve 100. Vertical clevis legs 92 are laterally space to receive lower end 78 of inner tubular portion 62 therebetween and also define clevis hole 94 therethrough. Lower end 78 is affixed in deck clevis 56 with attachment bolt 96 extending through holes 94 in the clevis legs and holes 168 in the lower end 78 of inner tubular portion 62. Nut 97 retains bolt 96 in position through the holes 94.

FIG. 6 illustrates the attachment of stowing clevis 54 to angled frame leg 38 and the further attachment of deck clevis 56 to stowing clevis 54. Stowing clevis 54 comprises legs 106 spaced to receive angled frame leg 38 therebetween. Clevis 54 is affixed to angled frame leg 38 with bolt 112 extending through legs 106 and the frame leg 38. A nut 113 is fastened on the end of bolt 112. Stowing clevis further includes base 104 extending outwardly from the bottom face of frame member 38. When deck clevis 56 is removed from the deck 28, the brace 50 is collapsed as described above and rotated upwards so that the bottom face of deck clevis 56 mates against the base 104 of stowing clevis 54. Deck clevis 56 is affixed to stowing clevis 54 with bolts 108 and nuts 109.

While not shown in the drawings, the extendable support brace 50 can be mounted to the upper longitudinal stringer (eave) 44 or any one or more of the vertical frame columns 32 of the screened enclosure frame structure and arranged to extend diagonally from the eave 44 or vertical frame member 32 to the underlying deck 28. More specifically, the upper end 66 of outer tubular portion 60 can be attached to either the upper longitudinal stringer (eave) 44 or an upper portion of the vertical frame column 32 using pivoting devises 52. Stowing clevis 54 is then affixed to a lower portion of the vertical frame column 32, allowing the support brace 50 to be stowed in its retracted position in alignment with the vertical frame column 32. Specifically, deck clevis 56, which remains attached to the free end 78 of the inner tubular portion 62, mates with stowing clevis 54, in the same manner as described above (see FIG. 6). In the event of threatening weather and high winds, the support braces 50 can be extended, in the same manner described above, by detaching the deck clevis 56 from the stowing clevis 54 and telescopically extending the inner tubular portion 62 outwardly from the outer tubular portion 60. The support brace 50 can then be position to extend diagonally from the eave 44 or upper portion of the vertical frame column 32 and downwardly to the deck 28. The deck clevis 56 is then fastened to the deck 28. While not shown in the drawings, this arrangement of the support braces 50 is fully contemplated within the spirit and scope of the invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates the attachment of K-braces 170 and purlin braces 190 to screened enclosure 30. Since rectangularly configured framing is inherently unstable and triangularly configured framing is rigid, additional bracing is desirable between the vertical frames 32 and longitudinal stringers 44, 46, 48. As illustrated in FIG. 7, a K-brace 170 extends diagonally across the rectangular frame combination of intersecting longitudinal stringers 44, 46, 48 and vertical frame members 32 and 36.

K-braces 170 have a first end affixed proximate to the intersection of an intermediate longitudinal stringer 46 and vertical frame member 32. A plate 186 is affixed to each side of intermediate longitudinal stringer 46 with screws 188 and extends above and below stringer 46. The first ends of K-braces 170 are likewise affixed to the extensions of plates 186 with screws 188. The second ends of K-braces 170 extend diagonally in opposite directions from intermediate longitudinal stringer 46. An upper one of K-braces 170 extends to the intersection of upper longitudinal stringer 44 and vertical corner frame member 36 while the lower one of K-braces 170 extends to the intersection of lower longitudinal stringer 48 and vertical corner frame member 36. The second ends of K-braces 170 are affixed to the frame members with corner cleats 210 in the manner described below.

Purlin brace 190 extends substantially from the intersection of angled leg 38 and upper frame member 40 to the intersection of upper longitudinal stringer 44 and vertical corner frame member 36. Each end of purlin brace 190 is affixed to the corresponding frame member with an angled end cleat 220 in the manner described below.

FIG. 8 illustrates an adjustable K-brace 170. An inner tubular portion 174 is telescopically received within outer tubular portion 172 and is slidable therein to permit a single K-brace configuration to be custom fit to different sized enclosure frame spacings. Tubular portions 172, 174 typically have a square cross section. Outer tubular portion 172 has an internal channel 176 of adequate size to receive therein inner tubular portion 174. An upper end 173 of outer tubular portion 172 includes a lateral hole 175 therethrough for receiving an a bolt 184 to affix inner tubular portion 174 with outer tubular portion 172 at installation to enclosure frame 30.

The lower end 178 of outer tubular portion 172 can also receive sleeve insert 180 therein. Sleeve insert 180 has an outer configuration to be tightly received in lower end 178 and frictionally retained therein. Sleeve insert 180 also includes a larger lip 181 to prevent sleeve insert 180 from being forced further into outer tubular portion 172. Sleeve insert 180 has an inner channel 182 sized to receive upper end 177 of inner tubular portion 174 therethrough. Lower end 179 of inner tubular portion has a lateral hole 183 therethrough for attachment to corner cleat 210.

FIG. 9 shows corner cleat 210 comprising a base 212, a back 216, and ears 214 extending between the sides of base 212 and back 216. Base 212 has a hole 213 therethrough to receive a screw (not shown) for attachment to vertical corner member 36. Back 216 has a hole 215 therethrough to receive a screw (not shown) for attachment to upper and lower longitudinal stringers 44 and 48. Ears 214 include laterally aligned holes 211 therethrough for attachment of lower end 179 of inner tubular member 174 of K-brace 170.

To accomplish installation of K-brace 170 to screened enclosure 30, the first ends of K-brace 170 are affixed as described above utilizing flat plates 186 and screws 188. Corner cleat 210 is then positioned with base 212 abutting vertical corner frame member 36 and back 216 abutting the intersecting longitudinal stringer 44 or 48. Corner cleat 210 can then be affixed into position with screws (not shown). Inner tubular member 174 is extended to corner cleat 210 and affixed thereto by inserting a bolt (not shown) through holes 211 in corner cleat 210 and hole 183 in inner tubular member 174 thereby defining the desired length of the diagonal K-brace 170. With both ends of K-brace fixed to enclosure frame 30, a bolt 184 is inserted through hole 175 and secured in place with nut 185.

FIG. 10 illustrates the angled end cleat 220 used to secure purlin brace 190 to screened enclosure 30. The angled end cleat 220 is utilized to attach each end of purlin brace 190 to a respective frame member 38, 44. End cleat 220 has a base 222 with a hole 223 therethrough for attachment to the respective frame member 38, 44. A pair of ears 224 extends in parallel fashion from opposite edges of base 222. The ears 224 are laterally spaced to receive an end of purlin brace 190 therebetween. Ears 224 have laterally aligned holes 225 therethrough for attachment to purlin brace 190. Those practiced in the art will readily recognize that the shape of ears 224 can be varied to facilitate the positioning of holes 225 with respect to base 222.

FIG. 11 illustrates the extendable portion of purlin brace 190. Purlin brace 190 includes an outer tubular member 192 typically of a square cross-sectional configuration. An inner tubular member 194 is telescopically received in outer tubular member 192 wherein inner tubular member 194 is typically of circular cross-sectional configuration. The lower end 193 of outer tubular portion 192 receives sleeve insert 200 therein. Sleeve insert 200 has an outer configuration to be tightly received in lower end 193 and frictionally retained therein. Sleeve insert 200 also includes a larger lip 201 to prevent sleeve insert 200 from being forced further into outer tubular portion 192. Sleeve insert 200 has an inner circular channel 202 sized to receive inner tubular portion 194 therethrough and to permit inner tubular portion 194 to rotate about a longitudinal axis within outer tubular member 192. Lower end 196 of inner tubular portion has a lateral hole (not shown) therethrough for receiving bolt 198 for attachment to angled end cleat 220.

The angled cleat 220 attaches to upper horizontal frame member 44, near the corner where the corner vertical frame member 36 meets horizontal frame member 44. Base 222 of end cleat 220 is positioned to mate flat against an inside face or frame member 44. Angled end cleat is secured to frame member 44 with bolt 207, washer 209 and nut 208. The angled cleat 220 is pivotable about bolt 207 to allow for adjusted positioning. Since purlin brace 190 projects from angled leg 38 at a compound angle, end cleat 220 at the top end can be pivoted to obtain the proper angular relationship with respect to angled frame leg 38 and upper longitudinal stringer (i.e., horizontal frame member) 44.

Inner tubular member 196 of purlin brace 190 is extended from outer tubular member 192 and rotated in combination with the lower end cleat 220 to align the cleat with frame member 44. Once purlin brace 190 is properly oriented and affixed between both end cleats 220, nuts 208 are tightened to securely fasten the cleats 220 to the respective frame members. A hole is then drilled through outer tubular member 192 and inner tubular member 194 and bolt 203 is inserted therethrough and engaged with a nut (not shown) to fix the length of purlin brace 190.

In the foregoing description those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims expressly state otherwise.

Claims

1. A support brace for a screened enclosure of the type having a frame structure with a plurality of laterally spaced apart frames extending over a recreational area, said support brace comprising:

an outer tubular portion;

an inner tubular portion slidably received in said outer tubular portion;

a frame attachment at a first end of said support brace for attaching said first end to an upper portion of the frame structure; and

an anchor attachment at a second end of said support brace for selectively attaching second end to the frame structure or to a surface of the recreational area.

2. The support brace of claim 1 wherein said inner tubular portion and said outer tubular portion are adjustable between a retracted stowed length and an extended anchoring length.

3. The support brace of claim 2 further including an insert interpositioned between said outer tubular portion and said inner tubular portion, said insert received in an end of said outer tubular portion and defining a hole therein receiving said inner tubular portion.

4. The support brace of claim 3 further including at least one cable extending interiorly to said inner and said outer tubular portions, one end of said cable affixed to said outer tubular portion and a second end of said cable affixed to said inner tubular portion, a length of said cable adjusted to limit the extended length of said support brace.

5. The support brace of claim 1 wherein said frame attachment comprises a clevis, said clevis sized to receive therein a portion of the frame of the screened enclosure.

6. The support brace of claim 5 wherein said clevis pivots about a first axis and rotates about a second axis.

7. The support brace of claim 6 wherein said anchor attachment comprises a second clevis.

8. The support brace of claim 6 wherein said second clevis receives said second end of said support brace and is pivotable with respect thereto.

9. An extendable support brace for a screened enclosure of the type having a frame structure with a plurality of laterally spaced apart frames extending over a defined area, said support brace comprising:

an extendable tube having an upper end and a lower end, said extendable tube adjustable between a retracted stowed length and an extended anchoring length;

a pivoting clevis affixed to said upper end for attaching said support brace to an upper portion of one of the frames of the enclosure; and

an anchor attachment at said lower end for selectively attaching to one of the frames or to a surface of the defined area.

10. The support brace of claim 9 wherein said extendable tube comprises:

an outer tubular portion and an inner tubular portion, said inner tubular portion telescopically received in said outer tubular portion; and

a stop interposed between said outer tubular portion and said inner tubular portion limiting said extended anchoring length.

11. The support brace of claim 10 further including a pin wherein said inner tubular portion and said outer tubular portion define intermediate holes therethrough, said retracted length and said extended length selected by aligning and inserting said pin through selected ones of said defined intermediate holes.

12. The support brace of claim 10 wherein said stop comprises at least one flexible cable extending interiorly to said outer and said inner tubular portions, one end of said cable affixed to said outer tubular portion and an opposite end of said cable affixed to said inner tubular portion, said cable having a length limiting said extended anchoring length of said brace such that said inner tubular portion remains at least partially telescopically received in said outer tubular portion.

13. The support brace of claim 12 wherein said stop comprises two flexible cables, each of said cable having a loop formed at one end thereof, said loop of each cable receiving therethrough a pin extending through said outer tubular member thereby fixing said loop with respect to said outer tubular portion; and further wherein other ends of said two cables opposite from said loops are affixed together and attached interiorly to said inner tubular member.

14. The support brace of claim 9 wherein said pivoting clevis comprises a fixed clevis and a pivot clevis each clevis including a respective base and spaced apart legs, said fixed clevis base affixed to said pivot clevis base in a back-to-back fashion with a pin therethrough defining a pivoting axis, said fixed clevis pivotable with respect to said pivot clevis about said pivoting axis.

15. The support brace of claim 14 further including an intermediate washer having a low friction surface interposed between said pivot clevis base and said fixed clevis base.

16. The support brace of claim 14 wherein said upper end of said extendable tube has a lateral hole therethrough and said legs of said pivot clevis each have an attach hole therethrough, said attach holes in registration one with the other, and further wherein said upper end of said extendable tube is affixed to said pivot clevis with a pin extending through said lateral hole and said attach holes, said pin defining a rotation axis, said pivot clevis rotatable with respect to said adjustable tube about said rotation axis.

17. A screened enclosure for enclosing a recreational area such as a swimming pool, said screened enclosure comprising:

a plurality of laterally spaced frames extending across the width of the recreational area;

a plurality of longitudinal members extending between adjacent ones of said frames maintaining said frames in a fixed spaced apart relationship;

a mesh screen extending over and covering said assembled framework for the purpose of keeping insects out of the interior of said enclosure; and

two support braces affixed to each said frame, each support brace having one end pivotably affixed to a top portion of said frame and a second end of a first of said support braces affixed to a first side portion of said frame and a second end of a second of said support braces affixed to an opposite side portion of said frame, said second ends of said support braces repositionable from said side portions of said frames to an anchor position on a peripheral portion of the recreational area.

18. The screened enclosure of claim 17 wherein each of said support braces comprises:

an outer tubular portion;

an inner tubular portion slidably received in said outer tubular portion; and

said inner tubular portion and said outer tubular portion are adjustable between a retracted stowed length and an extended anchoring length.

19. A bracing system for a screened enclosure frame attached to a supporting foundation, said bracing system comprising:

a plurality of first adjustable braces, each of said first adjustable braces repeatably adjustable between an extended and retracted position and having a first end thereof adapted for pivotal attachment to a first part of the screened enclosure frame and a second end adapted for alternating attachment to a second portion of the screened enclosure frame in said retracted position and to the supporting foundation in said extended position; and

a plurality of second adjustable braces, each of said second adjustable braces having a first end and a second end and adjustable to fit between first and second screened enclosure frame members for permanent attachment of both ends of said second adjustable braces to the screened enclosure frame members.

20. The bracing system of claim 19 wherein said plurality of second adjustable braces includes:

a plurality of K-braces; and

a plurality of purlin braces.

21. The bracing system of claim 20 wherein each of said K-braces comprises:

an outer tubular member having a polygonal cross-sectional configuration and defining a longitudinal channel; and

an inner tubular member having a congruent polygonal cross-sectional configuration and telescopically received within said outer tubular member longitudinal channel.

22. The bracing system of claim 20 wherein each of said purlin braces comprises:

an outer tubular member having a polygonal cross-sectional configuration and defining a longitudinal channel and a longitudinal axis; and

an inner tubular member having a circular cross-sectional configuration and telescopically received within said outer tubular member longitudinal channel and rotatable about a longitudinal axis.