Screen clips for single pane Concourse windows (Hehr 4700 Series, single pane, circa 1997-98-99))

[Blue~Go]

Here is a review of how the original clips work with the window/screen/frame. Note that the clip part here is MUCH larger than in real life as compared to the rest of the drawing.

Also what is shown above shows it like it is the bottom clip. That's because at the time I didn't realize there were two different clips. That is actually the top clip. The bottom clip is somewhat similar, except that it has more of a "block" of plastic at the bottom that keeps the screen frame from sinking down in its place.

Here is a drawing showing roughly how the straws go in (sorry, I should have used the same colors but I didn't).

In the drawing above, the blue is the metal track that is actually the main window frame as well. The yellow is the sliding window glass in its frame. The green is a representation of a plastic track that the window rides in. The black is the screen frame. And the red is the slit straw.

The original clips did three things: Hold the screen in place up/down; hold the screen in from falling out into the room; and keep the screen separated from the window glass by holding it off from the plastic track (see original annotated photo above). The straws do most of that reasonably well. There is no problem with repeated opening and closing of the window. I don't think they would hold up well to repeated sliding open/closed of the screen; but to my mind that's a secondary function -- opening and closing the window and having a screen there is primary.

So, what I did was remove the screen/frame. I then took five sections of cut straw and pinched them between my fingers them such that the two cut sides were together on one side, and thus the bottom of the "U" was on the other side in the center of the flattened straw. I then forced the "U's" up into the groove in the screen track (three straw sections on top, two on the bottom). The fact that they were once round makes them stay in by tension.

Now time to put the screen frame with the straws into the window frame. I started with either the top or the bottom (forget which now), and spread the "wings" of the straws so one would be outside and one inside (so they straddle the "fin" as in the drawing). Then I use a bit of persuasion (being careful not to bend the screen frame permanently) to do the other set of clips. Et, voilà! Screens in place

If you press downward, the straws will give and allow the screen to go downward a bit more than would be idea. But if you don't, they won't. And if the bottom clips turn out to be obtainable, then that would be even better (combined with the straws).

Also, maybe Retired Tim's hose method solves the problem better (?). The straws do allow limited sliding of the screen (like to let a fly out).

Next a few photos with them in place.

[Blue~Go]

Here are a few photos of the straws in place (purple straw in this case).

On the bottom (with one of the original bottom clips next to it, since I have some of them; but originally I had just the straws and it still worked).

On the top:

Another more overview of the top showing the window glass partly slid open and the screen all the way closed (in the normal position). Pardon the flash glare on the valance; without it the clips didn't show up.

[Blue~Go]

One note is that I just went outside and looked, and actually, the straws on the bottom kind of curled around themselves and thus make a "wider clip" that helps keep the screen separated from the glass. So instead of just like my drawing:

In actual fact it ends up something like this, which probably works a bit better anyway:

[Concourse St Tropez]

Wow..most interesting , and your drawings and pics make it simple to understand..without them it would be hard..
I will try the trick.asap.
Thanks again for your improvement of retiredtim's bright idea.

[Blue~Go]

St Tropez,

Glad it all made sense. I don't know whether or not it's an improvement to RetiredTim's method, or just an alternative (I haven't tried his method). At any rate, it works, doesn't deform the screens at all, and I'm finally enjoying cross ventilation. Still get a little thrill every time I open that (formerly screenless and never opened) window

I did happen to pick up a different package of "smoothie straws" that are the same dimensions as the ones I used but a little bit thicker material. Not sure if they will be better or not, but may try them just to see. Five colors, so I can change up the "decor" as desired

[Blue~Go]

Update:

Straws still working fine, although the real clips would be better (slightly tighter fit, more able to stand up to sliding the screen open and closed if desired).

I also did find out that the lower screen clips are a different style than the uppers (the ones I show in this thread are the uppers). The lower ones are a bit simpler, as they are more just a "runner clip" - and may even be available. But the more complicated upper ones are required to keep the screen in place, since it doesn't run in a track like most screens, but instead perches on a fin. Hence it falls into the room without the upper clips (or use straws )