Modular folding screen

Abstract

A folding screen includes top and bottom folders, and a plurality of upright posts. Each folder includes a plurality of links which are interconnected in an end-to-end manner and which are foldable one over the other, at least one hinge unit interconnecting two adjacent ends of two adjacent ones of the links, and two endmost connectors connected respectively to two outermost ends of the links. The two adjacent ends of the two adjacent ones of the links are connected pivotally to each other. One upright post has top and bottom ends connected respectively to the hinge units of the top and bottom folders. Top ends of two other upright posts are connected respectively to the endmost connectors of the top folder. Bottom ends of the two other upright posts are connected respectively to the endmost connectors of the bottom folder.

1 . A folding screen comprising: 
 a folder including a plurality of links which are interconnected in an end-to-end manner, two adjacent ones of said links having two adjacent ends that are connected pivotally to each other, said links being foldable one over the other;    at least one hinge unit interconnecting said two adjacent ends of said two adjacent ones of said links;    two endmost connectors connected respectively to two outermost ends of said links; and    a plurality of upright posts, one of said upright posts being connected to said hinge unit, another two of said upright posts being connected respectively to said endmost connectors.    
   
   
       2 . The folding screen as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of screen members each disposed between two adjacent ones of said upright posts.  
   
   
       3 . The folding screen as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said hinge unit includes a pair of spaced-apart first hinge rings connected to one of said two adjacent ends of said links, and a pair of spaced-apart second hinge rings connected to the other one of said two adjacent ends of said links, said first and second hinge rings being intermeshed and placed on top of said one of said upright posts, said hinge unit further including a hinge fastener extending through said first and second hinge rings and fixed to said one of said upright posts.  
   
   
       4 . The folding screen as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said hinge fastener has a head, and a stem extending through said first and second hinge rings, said stem having a screw thread to engage threadedly said one of said upright posts.  
   
   
       5 . The folding screen as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said hinge unit further includes a tubular member inserted into said first and second hinge rings around said stem.  
   
   
       6 . The folding screen as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said endmost connectors has a connector body disposed on a corresponding one of said another two of said upright posts, and a retainer extending through said connector body and engaging threadedly said corresponding one of said another two of said upright posts.  
   
   
       7 . The folding screen as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said retainer has a head, and a stem extending through said connector body to engage threadedly said corresponding one of said another two of said upright posts.  
   
   
       8 . A folding screen comprising: 
 top and bottom folders, each of said top and bottom folders including 
 a plurality of links which are interconnected in an end-to-end manner, two adjacent ones of said links having two adjacent ends that are connected pivotally to each other,  
 at least one hinge unit interconnecting said two adjacent ends of said two adjacent ones of said links, and  
 two endmost connectors connected respectively to two outermost ends of said links, said links being foldable one over the other; and  
   a plurality of upright posts each having top and bottom ends, said top end of one of said upright posts being connected to said hinge unit of said top folder, said bottom end of said one of said upright posts being connected to said hinge unit of said bottom folder, said top ends of another two of said upright posts being connected respectively to said endmost connectors of said top folder, said bottom ends of said another two of said upright posts being connected respectively to said endmost connectors of said bottom folder.    
   
   
       9 . The folding screen as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of screen members each disposed between two adjacent ones of said upright posts.  
   
   
       10 . The folding screen as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each of said screen members is made of a fabric material, and has a top end formed with a top sleeve for receiving a corresponding one of said links of said top folder, and a bottom end formed with a bottom sleeve for receiving a corresponding one of said links of said bottom folder.  
   
   
       11 . The folding screen as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each of said screen members is made of a fabric material, and has a top end provided with a top fastening unit to be fastened to a corresponding one of said links of said top folder, and a bottom end provided with a bottom fastening unit to be fastened to a corresponding one of said links of said bottom folder.  
   
   
       12 . The folding screen as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein each of said screen members is a plate having top and bottom ends connected respectively to said top and bottom folders.  
   
   
       13 . The folding screen as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising an intermediate folder that is similar in construction to said top and bottom folders, each of said upright posts having upper and lower sections which are connected to said intermediate folder.  
   
   
       14 . The folding screen as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein each of said upright posts has upper and lower sections, said upper and lower sections being interconnected detachably.