SCREEN PARTITION ASSEMBLY FOR A DOORWAY

Abstract

A screen partition assembly includes an elongate housing having an upper extremity and an opposed lower extremity, and upper and lower arms mounted to the upper extremity and the lower extremity, respectively, of the housing for movement between closed positions toward the housing and open positions extending away from the housing, wherein the upper arm opposes and is parallel to the lower arm in the open positions of the upper and lower arms. A flexible, robust screen is mounted to the housing for movement between a stored position relative to the housing and a deployed position relative to the housing forming a partition extending from the housing. The screen is received and held by the upper and lower arms in the open positions thereof in response to movement of the screen from the stored position to the deployed position in the open positions of the upper and lower arms.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to screen doors and, more particularly, to a portable screen door assembly useful for providing a temporary screen partition at an opening or doorway.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A screen door consists of a screen mesh installed at a doorway, and which moves between an open position opening the doorway and a closed position forming a screen partition at the doorway, which blocks insects and debris from entering interior spaces while allowing for air, light, and views. Hinged screen doors pivot between open and closed positions, and sliding screen doors, which or normally incorporated with sliding glass doors, slide between open and closed positions.

Doorways and sliding glass doors do not always incorporate screen door structures. Incorporating a screen door with an existing doorway or sliding glass door is normally expensive and time-consuming, requires some if not a substantial amount of structural alterations to the existing doorway or sliding glass door, and normally requires the services of a skilled workman to ensure proper installation. Given the desirability of screen doors, it would be highly advantageous to provide a screen door assembly that is inexpensive and portable, that may be easily and temporarily installed at an existing doorway without the need for making structural modifications to the doorway, and that is readily adjusted into a storage position for convenient storage during periods of nonuse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the principle of the invention, a screen partition assembly includes an elongate housing having an upper extremity, and an opposed lower extremity. Upper and lower arms are mounted to the upper extremity and the lower extremity, respectively, of the housing for movement between closed positions toward the housing and open positions extending away from the housing. The upper arm opposes and is parallel to the lower arm in the open positions of the upper and lower arms. A flexible, robust screen is mounted to the housing for movement between a stored position relative to the housing and a deployed position relative to the housing forming a partition extending from the housing. The screen is received and held by the upper and lower arms in the open positions thereof in response to movement of the screen from the stored position to the deployed position in the open positions of the upper and lower arms. The upper arm is mounted to the upper extremity of the housing for pivotal movement between the closed position and the open position, and the lower arm is mounted to the lower extremity of the housing for pivotal movement between the closed position and the open position. The screen engages and is held by the upper and lower races formed in the upper and lower arms, respectively, in the open positions thereof in response to movement of the screen from the stored position to the deployed position in the open positions of the upper and lower arms. The screen extends to, and is wound about, a mandrel carried by the housing between the upper and lower extremities. The screen winds and unwinds relative to the mandrel in response to movement of the screen between the stored and deployed positions.

According to the principle of the invention, a screen partition assembly includes an elongate housing having an upper extremity, an opposed lower extremity, an elongate chamber extending between the upper extremity and the lower extremity, and an elongate opening to the elongate chamber, the elongate opening extending between the upper extremity and the lower extremity. Upper and lower arms are mounted to the upper extremity and the lower extremity, respectively, of the housing for movement between closed positions toward the housing and open positions extending away from the housing. The upper arm opposes and is parallel to the lower arm in the open positions of the upper and lower arms. A flexible, robust screen is mounted to the housing for movement between a stored position in the chamber and a deployed position extending outwardly from the chamber through the opening forming a partition extending from the housing. A first coupling is formed between the screen and one of the upper and lower arms in response to movement of the screen from the stored position to the deployed position in the open position of the one of the upper and lower arms. A second coupling is formed between the screen and the other one of the upper and lower arms in response to movement of the screen from the stored position to the deployed position in the open position of the other one of the upper and lower arms. The upper arm is mounted to the upper extremity of the housing for pivotal movement between the closed position and the open position, and the lower arm is mounted to the lower extremity of the housing for pivotal movement between the closed position and the open position. The screen extends to, and is wound about, a mandrel carried by the housing in the chamber. The screen winds and unwinds relative to the mandrel in response to movement of the screen between the stored and deployed positions.

According to the principle of the invention, a screen partition assembly includes an elongate housing having an upper extremity, an opposed lower extremity, an extension extending between the upper extremity and the lower extremity, an elongate chamber extending between the upper extremity and the lower extremity, and an elongate opening to the elongate chamber formed in the extension. The elongate opening extends from the upper extremity to the lower extremity. Upper and lower arms are mounted to the upper extremity and the lower extremity, respectively, of the housing for movement between closed positions toward the housing and open positions extending away from the housing, wherein the upper arm opposes and is parallel to the lower arm in the open positions of the upper and lower arms. A flexible, robust screen has a marginal extremity formed with an abutment. The screen is mounted to the housing for movement between a stored position in the chamber and a deployed position extending outwardly from the chamber through the opening forming a partition extending from the housing. The abutment of the marginal extremity of the screen is received against the extension of the housing in the stored position of the screen. A first coupling is formed between the screen and one of the upper and lower arms in response to movement of the screen from the stored position to the deployed position in the open position of the one of the upper and lower arms. A second is coupling formed between the screen and the other one of the upper and lower arms in response to movement of the screen from the stored position to the deployed position in the open position of the other one of the upper and lower arms. The upper arm is mounted to the upper extremity of the housing for pivotal movement between the closed position and the open position, and the lower arm is mounted to the lower extremity of the housing for pivotal movement between the closed position and the open position. The screen extends to, and is wound about, a mandrel carried by the housing in the chamber. The screen winds and unwinds relative to the mandrel in response to movement of the screen between the stored and deployed positions.

According to the principle of the invention, a screen partition and doorway assembly includes a doorway formed in a wall by a lintel and an opposed sill, and opposed first and second jambs extending between the lintel and the sill. An elongate housing is applied along the first jamb. The elongate housing extends along the first jamb from an upper extremity of the housing positioned proximate to the lintel, and an opposed lower extremity of the jamb positioned proximate to the sill. An upper arm is mounted to the upper extremity of the housing for movement between a closed position toward the housing away from the lintel and an open position extending away from the housing and applied along the lintel between the first and second jambs. A lower arm is mounted to the lower extremity of the housing for movement between a closed position toward the housing away from the sill and an open position extending away from the housing and applied along the sill between the first and second jambs. The upper arm is moved into the open position and is applied along the lintel between the first and second jambs. The lower arm is moved into the open position and is applied along the sill between the first and second jambs. A flexible, robust screen is mounted to the housing for movement between a stored position relative to the housing away from the second jamb and a deployed position relative to the housing toward the second jamb forming a screened partition at the doorway extending from the housing. A first coupling is formed between the screen and one of the upper and lower arms in response to movement of the screen from the stored position to the deployed position in the open position of the one of the upper and lower arms. A second coupling is formed between the screen and the other one of the upper and lower arms in response to movement of the screen from the stored position to the deployed position in the open position of the other one of the upper and lower arms. The upper arm is mounted to the upper extremity of the housing for pivotal movement between the closed position and the open position, and the lower arm is mounted to the lower extremity of the housing for pivotal movement between the closed position and the open position. The screen extends to, and is wound about, a mandrel carried by the housing between the upper and lower extremities. The screen winds and unwinds relative to the mandrel in response to movement of the screen between the stored and deployed positions.

Consistent with the foregoing summary of preferred embodiments of the invention and the ensuing disclosure, which are to be taken together, the invention also contemplates associated apparatus and method embodiments, including methods of manufacturing and installing a screen door assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a screen door assembly constructed and arranged in accordance with the principle of the invention and shown as it would appear collapsed in a storage position;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the screen door assembly of FIG. 1 shown as it would appear partially deployed;

FIG. 4 is a fragmented perspective view of the screen door assembly of FIG. 1 shown as would appear deployed;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the screen door assembly of FIG. 1 shown as it would appear deployed in preparation for installation with a doorway;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the screen door assembly of FIG. 1 shown as it would appear deployed and installed with a doorway forming an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic section view of a spring-loaded bumper for use with a screen door assembly constructed and arranged in accordance with the principle of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is first directed to FIG. 1, in which there is seen a perspective view of a screen door assembly constructed and arranged in accordance with the principle of the invention and shown as it would appear collapsed in a storage position, and to FIG. 3, which is a perspective view of the screen door assembly of FIG. 1 shown as it would appear partially deployed toward an operative to serve as a partition at a doorway. Screen door assembly, which is denoted generally at 10, includes an elongate housing 12 having opposed upper and lower extremities or ends 14 and 15. Housing 12 is formed of plastic, aluminum or other metal, or other strong, resilient, or other like or similar material or combination of materials readily understood by the skilled artisan as being substantially rigid. Housing 12 is not only elongate but also hollow bounding an internal chamber denoted at 20 in FIG. 2, which extends along the length of housing 12 from upper end 14 to lower end 15 denoted in FIGS. 2 and 3.

As seen in FIGS. 1-3, housing is formed with an elongate extension 21, which projects outwardly with respect to housing 12 and which extends along the length of housing between upper end 14 and lower end 15. Referencing FIG. 2, an opening 22 is formed in extension 21. Opening 22 extends along the length of extension 21 between upper end 14 of housing 12 and lower end 15 of housing 12 and is thus an elongate opening, and communicates with or otherwise leads to chamber 20 formed in housing along the length of chamber 20 extending between upper end 14 of housing 12 and lower end 15 of housing 12.

With continuing attention directed to FIG. 2, housing 12 is formed with and supports a mandrel 24. Mandrel 24 has opposed upper end lower ends mounted for rotation to the respective upper and lower ends 14 and 15 of housing 12. A flexible, pliant, robust screen or screen mesh 25 fashioned of fabric, metal or other strong, flexible material or combination of materials is attached to and wound about mandrel 24. Screen 25 extends along the length of mandrel 24 between upper and lower ends 14 and 15 of housing 12 and is wound about the entire length of mandrel 24 from and between upper end 14 of housing and lower end 15 of housing 12. Screen 25 and has a straight marginal edge or extremity 26 that projects outwardly from chamber 20 through opening 22, and is formed with an attached, elongate strip or abutment 27 of metal or plastic or other like or similarly resilient and strong substantially rigid material or combination of materials. Abutment 27 extends along the length of extremity 26 of screen 25 from and between upper end 14 of housing 12 and lower end 15 of housing 12, and is secured to marginal extremity 26 by crimping, with rivets or other suitable fasteners, or with adhesive, such as construction adhesive. Abutment 27 is considered part of screen 25 and part of marginal extremity 26 of screen 25, is received in juxtaposition against outer end 21A of extension 21 in the storage position of screen 25, and extends along the length of outer end 21A of extension 21 from proximate to upper end 14 of housing 12 to proximate to lower end 15 of housing 12. Abutment 27 is wider or otherwise larger than opening 22 to prevent marginal extremity 26 and abutment 27 from retracting into chamber 20 through opening 22 in the storage position of screen 25.

Screen 25 is moveable between a wound, inoperative, stored, or storage position with respect to mandrel 24 wound about mandrel 24 as shown in FIG. 2, and an unwound, deployed, or operative position with respect to mandrel 24 as shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7 unwound with respect to mandrel 24 and projecting outward from housing 12 forming a screen partition. Mandrel 24 is a conventional mandrel, which is formed with a ratchet, commonly found in retractable blinds, and is formed with a conventional spring-biasing mechanism that biases mandrel 24 in a wound or stored position of screen 25 urging abutment 27 against outer end 21A of extension 21 and maintaining screen 25 wound about mandrel 24 in chamber 20 of housing 12. To move screen 25 from its wound/stored position with respect to mandrel 24 and its unwound/deployed position with respect to mandrel, a user need only take up abutment 27 of screen 25 and pull on it outwardly with respect to housing 12 with sufficient force to overcome the spring bias applied to mandrel 24 biasing screen 25 into its wound position in order to pull mesh at abutment 27 and rotate mandrel 24 in an unwinding direction of rotation to unwind screen 25 with respect to mandrel 24 into its deployed position. Once mesh 24 is deployed as desired, this pulling force is discontinued, whereby the conventional ratchet incorporated into mandrel 24 engages to lock mandrel 24 in place securing screen 25 in its deployed position with respect to housing 12 and mandrel 24. To retract screen 25 into its wound/stored position from its deployed/unwound position, a user need only take up abutment 27 and briefly pull on it outwardly with respect to housing 12 with sufficient force to briefly overcome the spring bias applied to mandrel 24 to briefly and initially unwind screen 25 with respect to mandrel 24 to disengage the ratchet formed in mandrel 24. After the ratchet is disengaged, mandrel 24 is released and unsecured, whereby releasing the pulling force on abutment 27 will permit the bias applied across mandrel 24 to rotate mandrel 24 in a winding direction of rotation to wind screen 25 about mandrel 24 until abutment 27 is received against outer end 21A of extension 21 and screen 25 is wound about mandrel 24 in the stored position of screen 25.

Referencing FIGS. 1 and 3, assembly 10 is additionally formed with opposed upper and lower arms 40 and 50. Upper and lower arms 40 and 50 are elongate, are coextensive, are half as long as housing 12, and are fashioned of plastic, aluminum or other metal, or other strong, resilient material or combination of materials well understood by those of ordinary skill as being substantially rigid. Upper arm 40 has opposed proximal and distal ends 41 and 42, and lower arm 50 has opposed proximal and distal ends 51 and 52. Proximal end 41 of arm 40 is mounted for pivotal movement to upper end 14 of housing 12 with a conventional pivot joint denoted at 44, and extends away from upper end 14 of housing 12 to opposed distal end 42. Proximal end 51 of arm 50 is mounted for pivotal movement to lower end 15 of housing 12 with a conventional pivot joint denoted at 54, and extends away from lower end 15 of housing 12 to opposed distal end 52. Upper arm 40 has opposed inner and outer sides 46 and 47 extending between proximal and distal ends 41 and 42, and lower arm 50 has opposed inner and outer sides 56 and 57 extending between proximal and distal ends 51 and 52. An elongate race or groove 48 is formed in inner side 46 of arm 40, which extends along the length of arm 40 from proximal end 41 to distal end 42. Similarly to arm 40, an elongate race or groove 58 is formed in inner side 56 of arm 50, which extends along the length of arm 50 from proximal end 51 to distal end 52.

Arm 40 pivots at pivot joint 44 at upper end 14 of housing 12 between a collapsed, stored, or storage position toward housing 12 as seen in FIG. 1, and a deployed or operative position extending substantially horizontally outward from housing 12 from upper end 14 of housing 12 as seen in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7. Arm 50 pivots at pivot joint 54 at lower end 15 of housing 12 between a collapsed, stored, or storage position toward housing 12 as seen in FIG. 1, and a deployed or operative position extending substantially horizontally outward from housing 12 from lower end 15 of housing 12 as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7.

In the collapsed position of arms 40 and 40, arms 40 and 50 are located toward housing 12 and are received in juxtaposition with respect to housing 12 opposing and substantially parallel with respect to housing 12 including outer end 21A of extension 21 and also abutment 27 received against outer end 21A of extension 21, and distal ends 42 and 52 of arms 40 and 50 oppose and confront each other, and this orientation is clearly illustrated in FIG. 1. In a further and more specific aspect, in the collapsed position of arms 40 and 50, inner sides 46 and 56 of arms 40 and 50 and grooves 48 and 58 formed in inner sides 46 and 56 of arms 40 and 50 oppose and confront outer end 21A of extension 21 and also abutment 27 received against outer end 21A of extension 21 in the wound or stored position of screen 25 in chamber 20 of housing 12. In the wound position of screen 25 and the collapsed position of arms 40 and 50 as illustrated in FIG. 1, assembly 10 is compact in a storage position for convenient transport and storage during periods of nonuse. Housing 12 and upper and lower arms 40 and 50 cooperate as a framework, which is movable between a collapsed, stored, or stored position as shown in FIG. 1, and a deployed or operative position as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 in preparation for installation and use of screen 25 in forming a screen or mesh barrier at a doorway.

Referencing FIG. 6, assembly 10 is useful in forming a temporary screen door at an opening or doorway 70 conventionally formed in a wall 71 by a lintel 72, opposed jambs 73 and 74, and a sill 75. To employ assembly 10 for this purpose, assembly 20 is taken up and arms 40 are moved from their collapsed as shown in FIG. 1 to their deployed positions as shown in FIG. 6. Assembly 10 is oriented upright, and is applied to doorway 70 applying housing to and along jamb 73, applying upper arm 40 to and along lintel 71, and by applying lower arm 50 to and along sill 75, as shown in FIG. 7. The length of housing 12 from upper end 14 to lower end 15 is substantially equal to the length of jamb 73 from sill 75 to lintel 72, the length of upper arm 40 from proximal end 41 to distal end 42 is substantially equal to the length of lintel 72 extending between jambs 73 and 74, and the length of lower arm 50 from proximal end 51 to distal end 52 is substantially equal to the length of sill 75 extending between jambs 73 and 74. At this point, assembly 10 is secured in place, such as with threaded fasteners 78 applied between upper and lower ends 14 and 15 of housing 12 and jamb 73, upper arm 40 and lintel 72, and lower arm 50 and sill 75. At this point, screen 25 may be deployed from its stored position with respect to the framework formed by housing 12 and upper and lower arms 40 and 50 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 to form a mesh or screen barrier at doorway 70 as shown in FIG. 7, and then retracted as needed to remove the mesh or screen barrier at doorway 70 to allow unobstructed passage therethrough. As seen in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, abutment 27 is formed with an applied handle 27A that may be grasped or otherwise taken up by hand to assist a user in moving screen 25 between its stored and deployed positions. To remove assembly 10 from its installation with respect to doorway 70, the above installation operation need only be reversed.

As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, screen 25 has an upper marginal edge or extremity 80 directed at inner side 26 of upper arm 40, and an opposed lower marginal edge or extremity 81 directed at inner side 56 of lower arm 50. Upper marginal extremity 80 of screen 25 is formed with an applied bead 82, and lower marginal extremity 80 of screen 25 is formed with an identical bead. In the deployed positions of upper and lower arms 40 and 50, grooves 48 and 58 (see FIG. 1) formed in inner sides 46 and 56 of upper and lower arms 40 and 50 register with the beads formed in upper and lower marginal extremities 80 and 81 of screen 25, and are applied in and run through the respective grooves 48 and 58 in moving screen 25 between its stored and deployed positions. This application of the beads formed in the opposed upper and lower marginal extremities 80 and 81 of screen 25 to the respective grooves formed in upper and lower arms 40 and 50 of assembly 10 forms opposed couplings releasably attaching upper and lower extremities 80 and 81 of screen 25 to upper and lower arms 40 and 50 in response to the movement of screen 25 between its stored and deployed positions, and guides screen 25 with respect to upper and lower arms 40 and 50 along the movement path of screen 25 between its stored and deployed positions. This releasably attachment of upper and lower marginal extremities 80 and 81 of screen 25 releasably secures and holds screen 25 by and between upper and lower arms 40 and 50 in the deployed position of screen 25 and ensures screen 25 is secured in place with respect to upper and lower arms 40 and 50 in the deployed position of screen 25. FIG. 5 illustrates the application of bead 82 to groove 48 formed in inner side 46 of upper arm 40 is shown in FIG. 5 releasably capturing or otherwise retaining upper marginal extremity 80 of screen 25 to upper arm 40, and this exact orientation is also formed between lower marginal extremity 81 of screen 25 and lower arm 50. In sum, a first coupling is formed between screen 25 and upper arm 40 in response to movement of screen 25 from the stored position thereof to the deployed position thereof in the open position of upper arm 40. Similarly, a second coupling is formed between screen 25 and lower arm 50 in response to movement of screen 25 from the stored position thereof to the deployed position thereof in the open position of lower arm 50. The described bead-and-groove couplings formed between screen 25 and upper and lower arms 40 and 50 are each exemplary of a male-female race coupling. In the present embodiment the beads of the male-female race couplings are formed in screen 25, and the corresponding grooves or races are formed in upper and lower arms 40 and 50, and this positioning of the beads and grooves can be reversed.

Assembly 10, including the lengths of housing 12 and upper and lower arms 40 and 50, and also screen 25 forming the screen barrier, are suitably sized and to appropriately relate to the doorway assembly 10 is to be mounted to and used with, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. If desired, assembly 10 may be formed with adjusting features to allow assembly 10 to adjust to doorways of varying width and height. In other words, housing 12, and upper and lower arms 40 and 50 may be formed with length-adjusting features or assemblies useful in adjusting the length of these structural features in order to provide a user with flexibility in installing assembly in doorways of varying height and width.

As a matter of example, FIG. 8 is a highly generalized illustration of an adjusting mechanism useful in assembly 10 to permit assembly 10 to adjust to the doorway it is to be used with. FIG. 8 is a is a highly generalized, fragmented schematic view of distal end 42 of arm 40, which is formed a reciprocating bolt 90 having an inner end 91 directed in distal end 42 of upper arm 40, and an opposed outer end 91 projecting outwardly with respect to distal end 42 of upper arm 40. Outer end 92 is formed with an enlarged boot 93, which, in this embodiment, is formed of rubber or other like or similar material. Bolt 90 reciprocates in and through a fixed collar 95 formed in upper arm 40 in the directions indicated by the double arrowed line A, and a tension spring 100 encircles bolt 90 and is captured between collar 95 and a stop 101 formed in bolt 100 between collar 95 and outer end 92, which acts on bolt 90 and collar 95 to bias bolt 90, and thus boot 93 formed in outer end 92 of bolt 90, outwardly with respect to distal end 42 of upper arm in the direction indicated by the arrowed line B. After applying upper arm 40 to a lintel of a doorway, spring 100 acts on collar 95 and bolt 90 urging outer end 92 formed with boot 93 toward and against the opposed jamb to initially secure upper end 14 of housing 12 and distal end 42 of upper arm 40 to and between the opposed jambs of the doorway. The provision of the length adjusting assembly formed in distal end 42 of upper arm 40 as shown in FIG. 8 is useful in adjusting the overall length of upper arm to accommodate variations in the width of doorway spanning along the lintel between the opposed jambs. Such a length-adjusting assembly, or other like or similar adjustment assembly, may also be formed in upper end 14 of housing 12, lower end 15 of housing 12, and distal end 52 of lower arm 50 in order to facilitate length adjustment in housing 12 and lower arm 50.

The present invention is described above with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made in the described embodiment without departing from the nature and scope of the present invention. Various further changes and modifications to the embodiment herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is:

Claims

1. A screen partition assembly, comprising:

an elongate housing having an upper extremity, and an opposed lower extremity;

upper and lower arms mounted to the upper extremity and the lower extremity, respectively, of the housing for movement between closed positions toward the housing and open positions extending away from the housing, wherein the upper arm opposes and is parallel to the lower arm in the open positions of the upper and lower arms;

a flexible, robust screen mounted to the housing for movement between a stored position relative to the housing and a deployed position relative to the housing forming a partition extending from the housing; and

the screen received and held by the upper and lower arms in the open positions thereof in response to movement of the screen from the stored position to the deployed position in the open positions of the upper and lower arms.

2. A screen partition assembly according to claim 1, wherein the upper arm is mounted to the upper extremity of the housing for pivotal movement between the closed position and the open position.

3. A screen partition assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lower arm is mounted to the lower extremity of the housing for pivotal movement between the closed position and the open position.

4. A screen partition assembly according to claim 1, wherein the screen engages and is held by upper and lower races formed in the upper and lower arms, respectively, in the open positions thereof in response to movement of the screen from the stored position to the deployed position in the open positions of the upper and lower arms.

5. A screen partition assembly according to claim 1, wherein the screen extends to, and is wound about, a mandrel carried by the housing between the upper and lower extremities, the screen winding and unwinding relative to the mandrel in response to movement of the screen between the stored and deployed positions.

6. A screen partition assembly, comprising:

an elongate housing having an upper extremity, an opposed lower extremity, an elongate chamber extending between the upper extremity and the lower extremity, and an elongate opening to the elongate chamber, the elongate opening extending between the upper extremity and the lower extremity;

upper and lower arms mounted to the upper extremity and the lower extremity, respectively, of the housing for movement between closed positions toward the housing and open positions extending away from the housing, wherein the upper arm opposes and is parallel to the lower arm in the open positions of the upper and lower arms;

a flexible, robust screen mounted to the housing for movement between a stored position in the chamber and a deployed position extending outwardly from the chamber through the opening forming a partition extending from the housing; and

a first coupling formed between the screen and one of the upper and lower arms in response to movement of the screen from the stored position to the deployed position in the open position of the one of the upper and lower arms.

7. A screen partition assembly according to claim 6, further comprising a second coupling formed between the screen and the other one of the upper and lower arms in response to movement of the screen from the stored position to the deployed position in the open position of the other one of the upper and lower arms.

8. A screen partition assembly according to claim 6, wherein the upper arm is mounted to the upper extremity of the housing for pivotal movement between the closed position and the open position.

9. A screen partition assembly according to claim 6, wherein the lower arm is mounted to the lower extremity of the housing for pivotal movement between the closed position and the open position.

10. A screen partition assembly according to claim 6, wherein the screen extends to, and is wound about, a mandrel carried by the housing in the chamber, the screen winding and unwinding relative to the mandrel in response to movement of the screen between the stored and deployed positions.

11. A screen partition assembly, comprising:

an elongate housing having an upper extremity, an opposed lower extremity, an extension extending between the upper extremity and the lower extremity, an elongate chamber extending between the upper extremity and the lower extremity, and an elongate opening to the elongate chamber formed in the extension, the elongate opening extending from the upper extremity to the lower extremity;

upper and lower arms mounted to the upper extremity and the lower extremity, respectively, of the housing for movement between closed positions toward the housing and open positions extending away from the housing, wherein the upper arm opposes and is parallel to the lower arm in the open positions of the upper and lower arms;

a flexible, robust screen has a marginal extremity formed with an abutment;

the screen is mounted to the housing for movement between a stored position in the chamber and a deployed position extending outwardly from the chamber through the opening forming a partition extending from the housing;

the abutment of the marginal extremity of the screen received against the extension of the housing in the stored position of the screen; and

a first coupling formed between the screen and one of the upper and lower arms in response to movement of the screen from the stored position to the deployed position in the open position of the one of the upper and lower arms.

12. A screen partition assembly according to claim 11, further comprising a second coupling formed between the screen and the other one of the upper and lower arms in response to movement of the screen from the stored position to the deployed position in the open position of the other one of the upper and lower arms.

13. A screen partition assembly according to claim 11, wherein the upper arm is mounted to the upper extremity of the housing for pivotal movement between the closed position and the open position.

14. A screen partition assembly according to claim 11, wherein the lower arm is mounted to the lower extremity of the housing for pivotal movement between the closed position and the open position.

15. A screen partition assembly according to claim 11, wherein the screen extends to, and is wound about, a mandrel carried by the housing in the chamber, the screen winding and unwinding relative to the mandrel in response to movement of the screen between the stored and deployed positions.

16. A screen partition and doorway assembly, comprising:

a doorway formed in a wall by a lintel and an opposed sill, and opposed first and second jambs extending between the lintel and the sill;

an elongate housing applied along the first jamb, the elongate housing extending along the first jamb from an upper extremity of the housing positioned proximate to the lintel, and an opposed lower extremity of the jamb positioned proximate to the sill;

an upper arm mounted to the upper extremity of the housing for movement between a closed position toward the housing away from the lintel and an open position extending away from the housing and applied along the lintel between the first and second jambs;

a lower arm mounted to the lower extremity of the housing for movement between a closed position toward the housing away from the sill and an open position extending away from the housing and applied along the sill between the first and second jambs;

the upper arm moved into the open position and being applied along the lintel between the first and second jambs;

the lower arm moved into the open position and being applied along the sill between the first and second jambs;

a flexible, robust screen mounted to the housing for movement between a stored position relative to the housing away from the second jamb and a deployed position relative to the housing toward the second jamb forming a screened partition at the doorway extending from the housing; and

a first coupling formed between the screen and one of the upper and lower arms in response to movement of the screen from the stored position to the deployed position in the open position of the one of the upper and lower arms.

17. A screen partition and doorway assembly according to claim 16, further comprising a second coupling formed between the screen and the other one of the upper and lower arms in response to movement of the screen from the stored position to the deployed position in the open position of the other one of the upper and lower arms.

18. A screen partition and doorway assembly according to claim 16, wherein the upper arm is mounted to the upper extremity of the housing for pivotal movement between the closed position and the open position.

19. A screen partition and doorway assembly according to claim 16, wherein the lower arm is mounted to the lower extremity of the housing for pivotal movement between the closed position and the open position.

20. A screen partition and doorway assembly according to claim 16, wherein the screen extends to, and is wound about, a mandrel carried by the housing between the upper and lower extremities, the screen winding and unwinding relative to the mandrel in response to movement of the screen between the stored and deployed positions.