Rail for guided screen system

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a guide rail for a zip-like guided screen, comprises: providing an elongate body ( 10 ) including a pair of spaced-apart walls ( 12,14 ) defining a channel ( 18 ) therebetween, each wall ( 12,14 ) having a flange ( 20 ) projecting laterally into the channel ( 18 ) to define a neck region ( 22 ) of the channel ( 18 ); and plastically deforming the elongate body ( 10 ) to reduce the neck region ( 22 ) of the channel ( 18 ) from a first width to a second width such that the channel defines a keyway for receiving a zip-like retention device, the keyway having a profile which is maintained on completion of the plastic deformation and is configured to allow the zip-like retention device to slide in a first direction along the channel, and to resist movement in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction which would separate the zip-like retention device from the elongate body.

1 . A method of manufacturing a guide rail for a zip-like guided screen, comprising:
 providing an elongate body including a pair of spaced-apart walls defining a channel therebetween, each wall having a flange projecting laterally into the channel to define a neck region of the channel; and   plastically deforming the elongate body to reduce the neck region of the channel from a first width to a second width such that the channel defines a keyway for receiving a zip-like retention device, the keyway having a profile which is maintained on completion of the plastic deformation and is configured to allow the zip-like retention device to slide in a first direction along the channel, and to resist movement in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction which would separate the zip-like retention device from the elongate body.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which the first width is at least 1.0 mm. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which the second width is less than 1.0 mm. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which the elongate body has a base portion supporting the pair of spaced-apart walls, with the base portion having a line of weakness which defines a hinge region when deforming the elongate body to reduce the neck region of the channel from the first width to the second width. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , in which one part of the elongate body on one side of the line of weakness rotates through an angle of at least 10 degrees relative to another part of the elongate body on an opposite side of the line of weakness when deforming the elongate body. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  and comprising the step of providing successive elongate bodies and varying the amount of plastic deformation between successive bodies so as to manufacture bodies having differing second widths. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which the elongate body is formed from a metal, such as aluminium. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which the step of providing an elongate body comprises the step of extruding the elongate body. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , in which deforming the elongate body comprises passing the elongate body through a roller jig, the roller jig having roller means to clamp a first part of the elongate body and at least one press roller to urge a second part of the elongate body against the first part when reducing the neck region of the channel from the first width to the second width. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9 , in which the roller jig further comprises a stop member for limiting position of the at least one press roller to control width reduction of the neck region. 
     
     
         11 . A method of fabricating a screen system, comprising:
 resiliently mounting in a support frame a guide rail manufactured by:
 providing an elongate body including a pair of spaced-apart walls defining a channel therebetween, each wall having a flange projecting laterally into the channel to define a beck region of the channel; and 
   plastically deforming the elongate body to reduce the neck region of the channel from a first width to a second width such that the channel defines a keyway for receiving a zip-like retention device, the keyway having a profile which is maintained on completion of the plastic deformation and is configured to allow the zip-like retention device to slide in a first direction along the channel, and to resist movement in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction which would separate the zip-like retention device from the elongate body; and   providing a roller blind comprising a roller with a blind fabric wound therearound, the blind fabric having a zip-like retention device on one lateral side thereof which is configured to slide along the channel in the guide rail in an axial direction and resist being pulled out of the channel in a direction transverse to the axial direction as the blind fabric is deployed from the roller.