	US 11,851,945 B2
	Bug screen
Éric Giroux, Granby (CA); and Adrien Beaudoin, Farnham (CA)
Assigned to LIPPERT COMPONENTS, INC., Elkhart, IN (US)
Filed by Lippert Components, Inc., Elkhart, IN (US)
Filed on Jan. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/578,790.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/138,957, filed on Jan. 19, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0228435 A1, Jul. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. E06B 9/52 (2006.01); E06B 9/01 (2006.01); B60J 1/20 (2006.01)

CPC E06B 9/52 (2013.01) [B60J 1/2011 (2013.01); E06B 2009/015 (2013.01); E06B 2009/527 (2013.01)]

14 Claims

1. A bug screen frame assembly comprising:

a front frame portion defining an exterior of the frame assembly;

a rear frame portion connected to the front frame portion,

wherein one of the front frame portion and the rear frame portion is a female frame portion comprising a circumferential channel, and the other of the front frame portion and the rear frame portion is a male frame portion that engages and is securable to the circumferential channel; and

a mesh screen captured between the front frame portion and the rear frame portion,

wherein the male frame portion comprises a plurality of spikes extending toward the female frame portion, and the female frame portion comprises the circumferential channel that receives the spikes, and wherein the spikes pierce and extend through the mesh screen,

wherein the one of the front frame portion and the rear frame portion comprises a bump-out section with inside and outside riser surfaces on respective opposite sides thereof, and wherein the spikes extend from the bump-out section, the inside riser surface defining a first pinch surface, the other of the front frame portion and the rear frame portion comprising a second pinch surface, and the mesh screen being captured between the first and second pinch surfaces,

wherein the circumferential channel comprises at least one interior groove, and wherein the male frame portion comprises the plurality of spikes extending through the mesh screen and toward the circumferential channel, such that distal ends of the spikes are disposed in the interior groove.

13. A method of assembling a bug screen frame having a front frame portion with a circumferential channel, a rear frame portion with a plurality of spikes, and a mesh screen, wherein the rear frame portion engages and is securable to the circumferential channel, the method comprising:

(a) placing the mesh screen over a side of the front frame portion with the groove;

(b) positioning the rear frame portion over the mesh screen and the front frame portion and piercing the mesh screen with the spikes such that the spikes extend into the circumferential channel; and

wherein the rear frame portion comprises a bump-out section with inside and outside riser surfaces on respective opposite sides thereof, and wherein the spikes extend from the bump-out section, the inside riser surface defining a first pinch surface, the front frame portion comprising a second pinch surface, wherein step (b) is practiced by piercing the mesh screen with the spikes extending from the bump-out section, and wherein step (c) comprises capturing the mesh screen between the first and second pinch surfaces,

wherein the circumferential channel comprises at least one interior groove, and wherein step (c) further comprises extending the plurality of spikes through the mesh screen and toward the circumferential channel such that distal ends of the spikes are disposed in the interior groove.