Extendable support braces for a screened enclosure

Abstract

A diagonal support brace for a screened enclosure of the type having a plurality of laterally spaced apart frames extending over a recreational area. The support brace comprises an outer tubular portion and an inner tubular portion slidably received in the outer tubular portion. The support brace includes a frame attachment at a first end of the brace for attaching to an upper portion of the frame and an anchor attachment at a second end of brace for selectively attaching to a lower portion of the frame or to a surface of the recreational area.

1 . A support brace for a screened enclosure of the type having a frame structure with a plurality of laterally spaced apart frames extending over a recreational area, said support brace comprising: 
 an outer tubular portion;    an inner tubular portion slidably received in said outer tubular portion;    a frame attachment at a first end of said support brace for attaching said first end to an upper portion of the frame structure; and    an anchor attachment at a second end of said support brace for selectively attaching second end to the frame structure or to a surface of the recreational area.    
   
   
       2 . The support brace of  claim 1  wherein said inner tubular portion and said outer tubular portion are adjustable between a retracted stowed length and an extended anchoring length.  
   
   
       3 . The support brace of  claim 2  further including an insert interpositioned between said outer tubular portion and said inner tubular portion, said insert received in an end of said outer tubular portion and defining a hole therein receiving said inner tubular portion.  
   
   
       4 . The support brace of  claim 3  further including at least one cable extending interiorly to said inner and said outer tubular portions, one end of said cable affixed to said outer tubular portion and a second end of said cable affixed to said inner tubular portion, a length of said cable adjusted to limit the extended length of said support brace.  
   
   
       5 . The support brace of  claim 1  wherein said frame attachment comprises a clevis, said clevis sized to receive therein a portion of the frame of the screened enclosure.  
   
   
       6 . The support brace of  claim 5  wherein said clevis pivots about a first axis and rotates about a second axis.  
   
   
       7 . The support brace of  claim 6  wherein said anchor attachment comprises a second clevis.  
   
   
       8 . The support brace of  claim 6  wherein said second clevis receives said second end of said support brace and is pivotable with respect thereto.  
   
   
       9 . An extendable support brace for a screened enclosure of the type having a frame structure with a plurality of laterally spaced apart frames extending over a defined area, said support brace comprising: 
 an extendable tube having an upper end and a lower end, said extendable tube adjustable between a retracted stowed length and an extended anchoring length;    a pivoting clevis affixed to said upper end for attaching said support brace to an upper portion of one of the frames of the enclosure; and    an anchor attachment at said lower end for selectively attaching to one of the frames or to a surface of the defined area.    
   
   
       10 . The support brace of  claim 9  wherein said extendable tube comprises: 
 an outer tubular portion and an inner tubular portion, said inner tubular portion telescopically received in said outer tubular portion; and    a stop interposed between said outer tubular portion and said inner tubular portion limiting said extended anchoring length.    
   
   
       11 . The support brace of  claim 10  further including a pin wherein said inner tubular portion and said outer tubular portion define intermediate holes therethrough, said retracted length and said extended length selected by aligning and inserting said pin through selected ones of said defined intermediate holes.  
   
   
       12 . The support brace of  claim 10  wherein said stop comprises at least one flexible cable extending interiorly to said outer and said inner tubular portions, one end of said cable affixed to said outer tubular portion and an opposite end of said cable affixed to said inner tubular portion, said cable having a length limiting said extended anchoring length of said brace such that said inner tubular portion remains at least partially telescopically received in said outer tubular portion.  
   
   
       13 . The support brace of  claim 12  wherein said stop comprises two flexible cables, each of said cable having a loop formed at one end thereof, said loop of each cable receiving therethrough a pin extending through said outer tubular member thereby fixing said loop with respect to said outer tubular portion; and further wherein other ends of said two cables opposite from said loops are affixed together and attached interiorly to said inner tubular member.  
   
   
       14 . The support brace of  claim 9  wherein said pivoting clevis comprises a fixed clevis and a pivot clevis each clevis including a respective base and spaced apart legs, said fixed clevis base affixed to said pivot clevis base in a back-to-back fashion with a pin therethrough defining a pivoting axis, said fixed clevis pivotable with respect to said pivot clevis about said pivoting axis.  
   
   
       15 . The support brace of  claim 14  further including an intermediate washer having a low friction surface interposed between said pivot clevis base and said fixed clevis base.  
   
   
       16 . The support brace of  claim 14  wherein said upper end of said extendable tube has a lateral hole therethrough and said legs of said pivot clevis each have an attach hole therethrough, said attach holes in registration one with the other, and further wherein said upper end of said extendable tube is affixed to said pivot clevis with a pin extending through said lateral hole and said attach holes, said pin defining a rotation axis, said pivot clevis rotatable with respect to said adjustable tube about said rotation axis.  
   
   
       17 . A screened enclosure for enclosing a recreational area such as a swimming pool, said screened enclosure comprising: 
 a plurality of laterally spaced frames extending across the width of the recreational area;    a plurality of longitudinal members extending between adjacent ones of said frames maintaining said frames in a fixed spaced apart relationship;    a mesh screen extending over and covering said assembled framework for the purpose of keeping insects out of the interior of said enclosure; and    two support braces affixed to each said frame, each support brace having one end pivotably affixed to a top portion of said frame and a second end of a first of said support braces affixed to a first side portion of said frame and a second end of a second of said support braces affixed to an opposite side portion of said frame, said second ends of said support braces repositionable from said side portions of said frames to an anchor position on a peripheral portion of the recreational area.    
   
   
       18 . The screened enclosure of  claim 17  wherein each of said support braces comprises: 
 an outer tubular portion;    an inner tubular portion slidably received in said outer tubular portion; and    said inner tubular portion and said outer tubular portion are adjustable between a retracted stowed length and an extended anchoring length.    
   
   
       19 . A bracing system for a screened enclosure frame attached to a supporting foundation, said bracing system comprising: 
 a plurality of first adjustable braces, each of said first adjustable braces repeatably adjustable between an extended and retracted position and having a first end thereof adapted for pivotal attachment to a first part of the screened enclosure frame and a second end adapted for alternating attachment to a second portion of the screened enclosure frame in said retracted position and to the supporting foundation in said extended position; and    a plurality of second adjustable braces, each of said second adjustable braces having a first end and a second end and adjustable to fit between first and second screened enclosure frame members for permanent attachment of both ends of said second adjustable braces to the screened enclosure frame members.    
   
   
       20 . The bracing system of  claim 19  wherein said plurality of second adjustable braces includes: 
 a plurality of K-braces; and    a plurality of purlin braces.    
   
   
       21 . The bracing system of  claim 20  wherein each of said K-braces comprises: 
 an outer tubular member having a polygonal cross-sectional configuration and defining a longitudinal channel; and    an inner tubular member having a congruent polygonal cross-sectional configuration and telescopically received within said outer tubular member longitudinal channel.    
   
   
       22 . The bracing system of  claim 20  wherein each of said purlin braces comprises: 
 an outer tubular member having a polygonal cross-sectional configuration and defining a longitudinal channel and a longitudinal axis; and    an inner tubular member having a circular cross-sectional configuration and telescopically received within said outer tubular member longitudinal channel and rotatable about a longitudinal axis.