Projection screen and projection screen system

Abstract

A projection screen and a projection screen system for an acoustic room. A projection screen includes a flexible screen material mounted within a system of retainers. The screen material is tautly retained within the a system of retainer members, and may be treated so that its airflow resistance is variable. Acoustical material is disposed on the wall behind the screen. Acoustical paneling is chosen according to the acoustical characteristics of the room, so that acoustical modal pressure peaks and nulls forming primarily along the length of the room can be reduced. The projection screen can be surrounded by further acoustical material, so that the entire wall can be used to tune the room. The acoustical material surrounding the projection screen is mounted within a second retainer system in which covering fabric is retained.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A projection screen system for attachment to a wall, comprising: 
 a projection screen including: 
 a first retainer system; and  
 screen material supported by said retainer system, the screen material being substantially reflective of incoming light; and  
   a wall treatment for covering a remaining portion of said wall and attached to said first retainer system.    
     
     
         2 . The projection screen system of  claim 1 , wherein the first retainer system includes a plurality of elongated retainer members arranged about a perimeter of the projection screen, each retainer member including a retaining portion and a storage compartment.  
     
     
         3 . The projection screen system of  claim 2 , wherein the retaining portions of the retainer members include opposed retaining surfaces, the opposed retaining surfaces grippingly securing a portion of the screen material within the storage compartments of said retainer members.  
     
     
         4 . The projection screen system of  claim 1 , wherein the screen material is made from a polyester fiber material.  
     
     
         5 . The projection screen system of  claim 1 , wherein the screen material is elastic.  
     
     
         6 . The projection screen system of  claim 1 , wherein the projection screen further includes: 
 acoustical paneling for attachment to the wall between the screen material and the wall.    
     
     
         7 . The projection screen system of  claim 6 , wherein the acoustical paneling includes an optically reflective mat layer.  
     
     
         8 . The projection screen system of  claim 1 , wherein the wall treatment includes: 
 a second retainer system for attachment to the wall, exterior to a perimeter of the first retainer system.    
     
     
         9 . The projection screen system of  claim 8 , wherein the wall treatment further includes: 
 acoustical paneling for attachment to the wall; and    covering fabric, the covering fabric being attached to the first retainer system, and also attached to the second retainer system, the covering fabric extending between the two retainer systems and covering the acoustical paneling.    
     
     
         10 . A projection screen for attachment to a wall, comprising: 
 screen material which is substantially reflective of incoming light;    a retainer system; and    acoustical material, the acoustical material being disposable on one side of the screen material.    
     
     
         11 . The projection screen of  claim 10 , wherein the acoustical material includes at least one acoustical panel, the at least one acoustical panel having a surface opposed to the screen material which is substantially reflective of incoming light.  
     
     
         12 . The projection screen of  claim 10 , wherein the screen material is supported at its edges within the retainer system, the screen material being pulled taut and substantially flat.  
     
     
         13 . The projection screen of  claim 12 , wherein the screen material is made from a polyester fiber material.  
     
     
         14 . The projection screen system of  claim 12 , wherein the screen material is elastic.  
     
     
         15 . The projection screen of  claim 12 , wherein the screen material is coated with one of a reflective paint, and a layer of glass beads.  
     
     
         16 . The projection screen of  claim 11 , wherein the retainer system includes a plurality of elongated retainer members arranged about a perimeter of the projection screen, each retainer member including a retaining portion and a storage compartment, the screen material being supported at its edges by the retaining portions of the retainer members.  
     
     
         17 . The projection screen of  claim 9 , wherein said covering fabric is acoustically transparent.  
     
     
         18 . A method of assembling a projection screen system comprising: 
 mounting a retainer system to a wall;    mounting acoustical material to the wall; and    supporting screen material in the retainer system, so that acoustical material is disposed between the screen material and the wall, the screen material being substantially reflective of incoming light.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein mounting a retainer system to a wall includes: 
 providing a first retainer system; and    mounting the first retainer system to the wall, the first retainer system forming a perimeter for said screen; and    wherein supporting the screen material in the retainer system includes inserting edges of the screen material into the first retainer system.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein mounting a retainer system to the wall further includes: 
 providing a second retainer system;    mounting the second retainer system to the wall, the second retainer system at least partly surrounding the first retainer system on the wall.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein providing a first retainer system includes: 
 providing retainer members having a retaining portion and a storage compartment, the retaining portion having opposed retaining surfaces which retain a portion of said screen material.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein mounting acoustical material to the wall includes mounting acoustic paneling to the wall inside the perimeter of the first retainer system.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein mounting acoustical material to the wall includes mounting acoustic paneling to the wall between the first retainer system and the second retainer system.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 supporting covering fabric between the first retainer system and the second retainer system, the covering fabric having edges which are engaged with retainer grooves of the first and second retainer systems.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 applying a coating of material to the screen material, the coating of material changing the airflow resistance of the screen material.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 applying a coating of material to the screen material, the coating of material changing the optical reflectivity of the screen material.    
     
     
         27 . A projection screen comprising: 
 a retainer system for attachment to a wall, the retainer system including: 
 at least one elongated retainer member, the at least one retainer member having opposed elongated retaining surfaces; and  
 screen material supported by the retainer system, the screen material being substantially reflective of incoming light, with edges of the screen material being held between the opposed elongated retaining surfaces of the at least one elongated retainer member.  
   
     
     
         28 . The projection screen of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one elongated retainer member further includes: 
 a base wall, the base wall having a surface for engagement with the wall;    opposed elongated retaining arms, the elongated retaining surfaces located on the opposed arms; and    a storage compartment; wherein    edges of the screen material are held in tension between the opposed elongated retaining surfaces, and extend into the storage compartment.    
     
     
         29 . The projection screen of  claim 28 , wherein the screen material includes a reflective coating.  
     
     
         30 . The projection screen of  claim 27  wherein the screen material includes a heat shrink material.