Insect screen with improved optical properties

Abstract

An insect screen comprising fibers in a warp and fill construction defining openings having a warp dimension and a fill dimension, at least one of the warp and fill dimensions being less than about 0.05 inches and the other of the warp and fill dimensions being larger than about 0.03 inches, the fibers having a diameter of equal to or less than about 0.007 inches. The present invention is an improved insect screen designed to serve the primary purpose of keeping out insects and pests while maximizing visual clarity, light transmission, and airflow.

1 . An insect screen comprising fibers in a warp and fill construction defining openings having a warp dimension and a fill dimension, at least one of said warp and fill dimensions being less than about 0.05 inches and the other of said warp and fill dimensions being larger than about 0.03 inches, said fibers having a diameter of less than 0.006 inches.  
   
   
       2 . An insect screen as defined in  claim 1  wherein said diameter is equal to or less than about 0.005 inches.  
   
   
       3 . An insect screen as defined in  claim 1  wherein said diameter is equal to or less than about 0.004 inches.  
   
   
       4 . An insect screen as defined in  claim 1  wherein said fibers are metal fibers.  
   
   
       5 . An insect screen comprising fibers in a warp and fill construction defining openings having a warp dimension and a fill dimension, at least one of said warp and fill dimensions being less than about 0.05 inches and the other of said warp and fill dimensions being larger than about 0.03 inches, said fibers having a diameter of equal to or less than about 0.007 inches wherein said fibers are non-metallic fibers.  
   
   
       6 . An insect screen as defined in  claim 5  wherein said fibers are fluoropolymer fibers.  
   
   
       7 . An insect screen as defined in  claim 5  wherein said fibers are PVDF fibers.  
   
   
       8 . An insect screen comprising fibers in a warp and fill construction defining openings having a warp dimension and a fill dimension, at least one of said warp and fill dimensions being less than about 0.05 inches and the other of said warp and fill dimensions being larger than about 0.03 inches, said fibers having a diameter of equal to or less than about 0.007 inches wherein the screen has a visual clarity factor equal to or greater than about 55%.  
   
   
       9 . An insect screen as defined in  claim 8  wherein the screen has a visual clarity factor equal to or greater than about 60%.  
   
   
       10 . An insect screen as defined in  claim 8  wherein the screen has a visual clarity factor equal to or greater than about 65%.  
   
   
       11 . An insect screen as defined in  claim 8  wherein the screen has a visual clarity factor equal to or greater than about 70%.  
   
   
       12 . An insect screen as defined in  claim 8  wherein the screen has a visual clarity factor equal to or greater than about 75%.  
   
   
       13 . An insect screen as defined in  claim 8  wherein the screen has a visual clarity factor of about 75%.  
   
   
       14 . An insect screen as defined in  claim 8  further comprising a frame having a groove and spline construction, said fibers mounted in said frame.  
   
   
       15 . An insect screen comprising fibers in a warp and fill construction defining openings having a warp dimension and a fill dimension, at least one of said warp and fill dimensions being less than about 0.05 inches and the other of said warp and fill dimensions being larger than about 0.03 inches, said fibers having a diameter of equal to or less than about 0.007 inches, said fibers are PVDF fibers, and the screen has a visual clarity factor equal to or greater than about 55%.  
   
   
       16 . A woven fiber insect screen comprising fibers in a warp and fill construction defining openings having a warp dimension and a fill dimension, at least one of said warp and fill dimensions being less than about 0.05 inches and the other of said warp and fill dimensions being larger than about 0.03 inches, said fibers being fluoropolymer fibers.  
   
   
       17 . The insect screen of  claim 16  where said fibers are opaque.  
   
   
       18 . The insect screen of  claim 16  where said fibers are clear.  
   
   
       19 . The insect screen of  claim 16  where said fibers are dark in color.  
   
   
       20 . The woven fiber insect screen of  claim 16 , wherein said fibers are mounted in a frame having a groove and spline construction.  
   
   
       21 . A woven non-metallic fiber insect screen comprising fibers having a diameter of equal to or less than 0.007 inches in a warp and fill construction defining openings having a warp dimension and a fill dimension, at least one of said warp and fill dimensions being less than about 0.05 inches and the other of said warp and fill dimensions being larger than about 0.03 inches, with a total light transmission equal to or greater than about 60%.  
   
   
       22 . A woven non-metallic fiber insect screen as defined in  claim 21  wherein said total light transmission is equal to or greater than about 65%.  
   
   
       23 . A woven non-metallic fiber insect screen as defined in  claim 21  wherein said total light transmission is equal to or greater than about 70%.  
   
   
       24 . A woven non-metallic fiber insect screen comprising fibers in a warp and fill construction defining openings having a warp dimension and a fill dimension, at least one of said warp and fill dimensions being less than about 0.05 inches and the other of said warp and fill dimensions being larger than about 0.03 inches, with a total light transmission is equal to or greater than about 75%.  
   
   
       25 . A woven non-metallic fiber insect screen as defined in  claim 24  wherein said total light transmission is equal to or greater than about 80%.  
   
   
       26 . A woven non-metallic fiber insect screen as defined in  claim 24  wherein said total light transmission is equal to or greater than about 85%.  
   
   
       27 . A woven fiber insect screen comprising fibers having a diameter less than 0.006 inches in a warp and fill construction defining openings having a warp dimension and a fill dimension, at least one of said warp and fill dimensions being less than about 0.05 inches and the other of said warp and fill dimensions being larger than about 0.03 inches, with a total light transmission equal to or greater than about 75%.  
   
   
       28 . A woven fiber insect screen as defined in  claim 27  wherein said total light transmission equal to or greater than about 80%.  
   
   
       29 . A woven fiber insect screen comprising fibers in a warp and fill construction defining openings having a warp dimension and a fill dimension, at least one of said warp and fill dimensions being less than about 0.05 inches and the other of said warp and fill dimensions being larger than about 0.03 inches, with a total light transmission equal to or greater than about 85%.  
   
   
       30 . A woven non-metallic fiber insect screen comprising fibers having a diameter equal to or less than 0.007 inches in a warp and fill construction defining openings having a warp dimension and a fill dimension, at least one of said warp and fill dimensions being less than about 0.05 inches and the other of said warp and fill dimensions being larger than about 0.03 inches, with specular light transmission is equal to or greater than about 60%.  
   
   
       31 . A woven non-metallic fiber insect screen as defined in  claim 30  wherein said specular light transmission is equal to or greater than about 65%.  
   
   
       32 . A woven non-metallic fiber insect screen as defined in  claim 30  wherein said specular light transmission is equal to or greater than about 70%.  
   
   
       33 . A woven non-metallic fiber insect screen comprising fibers in a warp and fill construction defining openings having a warp dimension and a fill dimension, at least one of said warp and fill dimensions being less than about 0.05 inches and the other of said warp and fill dimensions being larger than about 0.03 inches, with specular light transmission is equal to or greater than about 75%.  
   
   
       34 . A woven non-metallic fiber insect screen as defined in  claim 33  wherein said specular light transmission is equal to or greater than about 80%.  
   
   
       35 . A woven fiber insect screen comprising fibers having a diameter of less than 0.006 inches in a warp and fill construction defining openings having a warp dimension and a fill dimension, at least one of said warp and fill dimensions being less than about 0.05 inches and the other of said warp and fill dimensions being larger than about 0.03 inches, with specular light transmission equal to or greater than about 75%.  
   
   
       36 . A woven fiber insect screen as defined in  claim 35  wherein said specular light transmission is equal to or greater than about 80%.  
   
   
       37 . A woven non-metallic fiber insect screen comprising fibers in a warp and fill construction defining openings having a warp dimension and a fill dimension, at least one of said warp and fill dimensions being less than about 0.05 inches and the other of said warp and fill dimensions being larger than about 0.03 inches, with a visual clarity factor equal to or greater than about 55%.  
   
   
       38 . A woven non-metallic fiber insect screen as defined in  claim 37  wherein said visual clarity factor is equal to or greater than about 60%.  
   
   
       39 . A woven non-metallic fiber insect screen as defined in  claim 37  wherein said visual clarity factor is equal to or greater than about 65%.  
   
   
       40 . A woven non-metallic fiber insect screen as defined in  claim 37  wherein said visual clarity factor is equal to or greater than about 70%.  
   
   
       41 . A woven non-metallic fiber insect screen as defined in  claim 37  wherein said visual clarity factor is equal to or greater than about 75%.  
   
   
       42 . A woven fiber insect screen comprising fibers in a warp and fill construction defining openings having a warp dimension and a fill dimension, at least one of said warp and fill dimensions being less than about 0.05 inches and the other of said warp and fill dimensions being larger than about 0.03 inches, with a visual clarity factor equal to or greater than about 60%.  
   
   
       43 . A woven fiber insect screen as defined in  claim 42  wherein said visual clarity factor is equal to or greater than about 65%.  
   
   
       44 . A woven fiber insect screen as defined in  claim 42  wherein said visual clarity factor is equal to or greater than about 70%.  
   
   
       45 . A woven fiber insect screen as defined in  claim 42  wherein said visual clarity factor is equal to or greater than about 75%.  
   
   
       46 . A woven fiber insect screen comprising non-metallic fibers in a warp and fill construction defining openings having a warp dimension and a fill dimension, at least one of said warp and fill dimensions being less than about 0.05 inches and the other of said warp and fill dimensions being larger than about 0.03 inches, fibers in said warp dimension and fibers in said fill dimension intersecting at intersections wherein said fibers are bonded at least some of said intersections to form bonded intersections, and wherein said fibers have a cross-section that is substantially round between said bonded intersections.  
   
   
       47 . A woven fiber insect screen as defined in  claim 46  wherein said bonded intersections are thermally bonded.  
   
   
       48 . A woven fiber insect screen as defined in  claim 46  wherein said bonded intersections are thermally bonded via ultrasonic energy.