Insect screen with improved optical properties

Abstract

An insect screen made from fibers in a warp and fill construction defining openings having a warp dimension and a fill dimension, both of said warp and fill dimensions being equal to or less than about 0.04 inches and equal to or larger than about 0.01 inches, said fibers having a diameter of equal to or greater than about 0.002 inches and less than about 0.007 inches. The present invention is an improved insect screen designed to serve the primary purpose of keeping out very small 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, both of said warp and fill dimensions being equal to or less than about 0.04 inches and equal to or larger than about 0.01 inches, said fibers having a diameter of equal to or greater than about 0.002 inches and 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 diameter is equal to or less than about 0.003 inches.  
   
   
       5 . An insect screen as defined in  claim 1  wherein said fibers are metal fibers.  
   
   
       6 . An insect screen as defined in  claim 1  wherein said fibers are non-metallic fibers.  
   
   
       7 . An insect screen as defined in  claim 1  wherein said fibers are fluoropolymer fibers.  
   
   
       8 . An insect screen as defined in  claim 1  wherein said fibers are PVDF fibers.  
   
   
       9 . An insect screen as defined in  claim 1  wherein the screen has a visual clarity factor equal to or greater than about 50%.  
   
   
       10 . An insect screen as defined in  claim 1  wherein the screen has a visual clarity factor equal to or greater than about 60%.  
   
   
       11 . An insect screen as defined in  claim 1  wherein the screen has a visual clarity factor equal to or greater than about 70%.  
   
   
       12 . An insect screen as defined in  claim 1  wherein the screen has a visual clarity factor equal to or greater than about 80%.  
   
   
       13 . An insect screen as defined in  claim 1  wherein the screen has a visual clarity factor of about 85%.  
   
   
       14 . An insect screen as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a frame having a groove and spline construction, said fibers mounted in said frame.  
   
   
       15 . The insect screen of  claim 1  where said fibers are opaque.  
   
   
       16 . The insect screen of  claim 1  where said fibers are clear.  
   
   
       17 . The insect screen of  claim 1  where said fibers are dark in color.  
   
   
       18 . The insect screen of  claim 1  wherein said total light transmission is equal to or greater than about 50%.  
   
   
       20 . The insect screen of  claim 1  wherein said total light transmission is equal to or greater than about 60%.  
   
   
       21 . The insect screen of  claim 1  wherein said total light transmission is equal to or greater than about 70%.  
   
   
       22 . The insect screen of  claim 1  wherein said total light transmission is equal to or greater than about 80%.  
   
   
       23 . The insect screen of  claim 1  wherein said total light transmission is equal to or greater than about 85%.  
   
   
       24 . The insect screen of  claim 1  wherein said specular light transmission is equal to or greater than about 50%.  
   
   
       25 . The insect screen of  claim 1  wherein said specular light transmission is equal to or greater than about 60%.  
   
   
       26 . The insect screen of  claim 1  wherein said specular light transmission is equal to or greater than about 70%.  
   
   
       27 . The insect screen of  claim 1  wherein said specular light transmission is equal to or greater than about 80%.  
   
   
       28 . A fiber insect screen comprising non-metallic fibers in a warp and fill construction defining openings having a warp dimension and a fill dimension, both of said warp and fill dimensions being equal to or less than about 0.04 inches and equal to or larger than about 0.01 inches, said non-metallic fibers intersecting at intersections wherein said non-metallic fibers are bonded at at least some of said intersections to form bonded intersections, and wherein said non-metallic fibers have a cross-section that is substantially round between said bonded intersections.  
   
   
       29 . A fiber insect screen as defined in  claim 28  wherein said bonded intersections are thermally bonded.  
   
   
       30 . A fiber insect screen as defined in  claim 29  wherein said bonded intersections are thermally bonded via ultrasonic energy.