JP4231847B2 - Windproof curtain device - Google Patents

Description

  The invention falls within the field of windbreak curtains, sometimes called windshield curtains or hurricane curtains.

Windbreak curtains are used to protect buildings during storms such as hurricanes. US Pat. No. 6,241,639 B1 (devices and methods for wind insulation of building openings), US Pat. No. 6,296,039 B1 (building openings) assigned to Wayne-Dalton Corp. Device and method for wind shielding of the part), No. 6,257,305B1 (method and device for driving and storing the cover), No. 6,378,593B1 (access for operation of the curtain device in the wall) Panel and method of use) and 6,431,250B2 (devices and methods for wind insulation of building openings), especially in the hurricane-prone areas such as Florida and the Gulf Coast Matters are disclosed. These disclosures of the aforementioned patents are incorporated herein by reference. Furthermore, the patent describes wind conditions during hurricanes and other storms.
US Pat. No. 6,241,639B1 US Pat. No. 6,296,039B1 US Pat. No. 6,257,305 B1 US Pat. No. 6,378,593 B1 US Pat. No. 6,431,250B2

  When a rift occurs on the exterior of a building, the destructive differential pressure causes enormous damage. Kinetic energy due to fluid (wind) velocity is proportional to the square of velocity. Thus, the energy from the wind pressurizes the interior of the house or other structure, which in combination with the roof profile causes the roof to act like an airplane wing and blow away the remaining structure.

  During a storm, the wind blown to the building or the opening of a building such as a doorway or window is not constant. The magnitude (force) and direction of the wind changes over time and fluctuates before and after the storm. While it is desirable to deploy protective devices before a violent wind hits a building, such deployment is not always done. Sometimes the deployment of the protective device takes place in fairly strong wind conditions.

  In the present invention, the entire circumference is sealed by the curtain being restrained by the windproof curtain housing part, the side guide part, and the lower frame.

  Therefore, there is a need for a windproof curtain frame that can be deployed in storm conditions when the wind is blowing and changing and changing. Furthermore, there is a need for a windproof curtain that can provide strength and rigidity in windstorms.

  Therefore, there is a need for a windbreak curtain having a bottom bar attached to the curtain for deployment, for example, when the curtain is raised and lowered and when the curtain is fully deployed at the fully lowered position.

  The present invention described below and set forth in the claims solves these and other problems.

  A windbreak curtain device including a curtain having a left side edge, a right side edge and a bottom is disclosed and claimed. The curtain bar is attached to the bottom of the curtain. The curtain is preferably a polymer curtain and can be one, two or three layers. The strip attached to the edge of the curtain is preferably a polymer and is disclosed in patent application No. 10 / 322,965, which is a method and apparatus for manufacturing a flexible curtain filed on Dec. 18, 2002. Thus, bonding, ultrasonic welding, high frequency welding, microwave welding or high frequency induction welding can be performed. As an alternative, the curtain may be made of other materials such as a fabric or a composite material including Kevlar, a trademark of DuPont.

  Nylon end caps are attached to each end of the curtain bar, and strips are attached to the side edges of the curtain. The support frame includes first and second side guides, and a top support and a bottom support attached to the side guide. Each side guide portion includes a main body having a substantially rectangular shape and extending in the longitudinal direction. Each body of each side guide includes a longitudinally extending curtain track and curtain slot and a longitudinally extending guide track and guide slot. The longitudinally extending curtain track communicates with the longitudinally extending curtain slot. Similarly, the longitudinally extending guide track communicates with the longitudinally extending guide slot.

  The curtain is movable between a first retracted position and a plurality of second deployed positions. Typically, the curtain is fully opened in good weather conditions or closed entirely in storm conditions. The edge of the curtain with the strip attached to it is located in the curtain slot and the end cap is partly located in the guide slot.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a frame assembly that provides stability and inductivity when a curtain is lowered from a first position (open) to a second position (closed) in storm conditions.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a frame assembly that helps stabilize when lowered from a curtain from a first position (open) to a second position (closed) in storm conditions.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a frame assembly including a longitudinally extending side guide having a longitudinally extending curtain track and curtain slot and a longitudinally extending guide track and guide slot. is there. Another object of the present invention is to stabilize the guide portion by using a bottom lower frame and a storage portion (top support portion) in which the curtain is drawn out and stored.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a frame assembly that holds the curtain under wind load in combination with a curtain having an edge and a strip-like member attached to the edge.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a frame assembly that guides the curtain with minimal friction when the curtain is lowered from its first open position to its second closed position. The curtain has an edge to which a belt-like member is attached. The curtain and the belt-like member are located in the curtain slot of each side guide portion of the frame. A bottom bar with an end cap at each end of itself is attached to the curtain. Each said end cap slidably engages a guide slot in each side guide. The end cap engages the guide slot, and the curtain and the strip attached to the curtain engage the curtain slot and allow the curtain to rise and fall while the wind is blowing against the curtain. To do.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a frame assembly including a bottom lower frame that supports a curtain and a curtain bar when the curtain is fully deployed, i.e., when the curtain is in its second position. is there. At its second position, the bottom of the curtain that is attached to and supported by the curtain bar rests against the lower frame of the frame.

An object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight curtain bar attached to a curtain that gives rigidity to the curtain and prevents the curtain from flaking in the wind when the curtain is deployed.

  These and other objects of the present invention will be best understood with reference to the following brief description of the invention and the claims.

  The drawings will be better understood with reference to the following description of the invention and the claims.

  FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view 100 of a windbreak curtain device, particularly showing a windbreak curtain 102, a windbreak curtain housing 101, side guides 104, 105, a curtain bar 103, and a lower frame 106. The windproof curtain storage unit, the side guide unit, and the lower frame form a frame that is fixed to the building adjacent to an opening such as a window or an entrance. As shown in FIG. 1, the frame is positioned on the outer surface of the opening, and is oriented with the storage portion facing outward toward the outer surface and the outdoor environment.

  As an alternative method, the frame may be oriented in the opposite direction with the windproof curtain storage part oriented towards the building. Orienting the frame in this reversal manner has some problems with drainage and the like, but has the advantage of a flat surface protrusion.

  The side guide portions 104 and 105 extend in the longitudinal direction, while the windproof curtain storage portion 101 and the lower frame 106 extend in the lateral direction. The top key 109 (top column) is shown in a position where it engages the left guide 104. Corner keys 107 and 108 for fixing the lower frame 106 to the left side guide 104 and the right side guide 105 are shown. In particular, the vertical portion 110 of the corner key 107 is interengaged with the left side guide 104, and the horizontal portion 111 of the corner key 107 is interengaged with the bottom bottom frame 106 and the vertical of the corner key 108. The direction portion 112 is engaged with the right side guide portion 105, and the horizontal direction portion 113 of the corner key 108 is engaged with the lower frame 106. Although another top key for fixing the right side guide portion 105 to the windproof curtain housing portion 101 is provided, this top key is not shown because FIG. 1 is a perspective view. As shown in FIG. 1, the keys are fixed to the respective parts by screws (without reference numerals).

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial view 200 of FIG. 1 showing the relationship between the curtain 102 and the end cap 201 and the side guide portion 104. The end cap 201 is press-fitted into the curtain bar 103 as shown. The groove 202 of the side guide 104 receives the top key 109. The top key is fixed to the side guide 104 by means of screws (without reference signs).

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial view 300 of FIG. 1 showing the assembly of the lower frame 106 and the side guides 104 using the corner key 107. In FIG. 3, a groove 301 in the lower frame 106 for receiving the horizontal portion 111 of the corner key 107 is shown. The vertical portion 110 interengages with the groove 202 of the side guide 104.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view 400 of the windproof curtain apparatus with the curtain drawn downward by about three quarters of the whole. The bottom bar 103, preferably made of aluminum, stabilizes the curtain as it moves downward from the retracted position within the storage portion 101 to a fully extended position as shown in FIG. 4A. Let The side guide portions 104 and 105 are also made of aluminum in the same manner as the storage portion 101 and the lower frame 106.

  FIG. 4A is a perspective view 400A of the windproof curtain device with the curtain fully pulled out.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view 500 of a side guide such as the side guide 104 shown in FIG. The side guide portion 105 shown in FIG. 1 is the same as the side guide portion 104 shown in FIG. FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view 500A of the side guide. The side guide portion has a substantially rectangular shape in cross section and extends in the longitudinal direction. The side guide portion includes a groove 202 extending in the longitudinal direction, a curtain track 501 extending in the longitudinal direction, and a guide track 530 extending in the longitudinal direction. A longitudinally extending curtain slot 520 is formed by walls 503 and 504, and a longitudinally extending guide slot 502 is formed by walls 503 and 505. The curtain slot 520 communicates with the curtain track 501, and the guide slot 502 communicates with the guide track 530.

  The groove 202 is formed by first, second, and third walls 506, 507, and 508 extending in the longitudinal direction, and first and second protrusions 509 and 510. The groove 202 receives a top key 109 and a bottom key 107 that are reciprocally shaped. This substantially all-aluminum structure is painted white with a paint that can be applied to a thickness of 2 to 3 thousandth of an inch and does not flow so that unwanted paint bulges and the like are minimized. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that any smooth finish is sufficient.

  The curtain 102 of the present invention is preferably a single layer polymer curtain. However, the curtain may be a multilayer polymer curtain or any other type of curtain that prevents the passage of water under high pressure. The strip attached to the edge of the curtain is preferably a polymeric material, but those skilled in the art will appreciate that the strip can be made of a suitable non-polymeric material. These strips can be attached to the curtain in a number of ways, such as described in copending application Ser. No. 10 / 322,965 filed Dec. 18, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference. The curtain may include a hole at the edge that extends through a polymer strip attached to the edge. Alternatively, the curtain 102 and strip 601 can be driven by a gear that does not extend through the curtain and strip and the teeth have teeth that interact essentially with the notches. A notch may be included.

  6 is a cross-sectional view 600 taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 4 and shows left and right side guides 104 and 105, the curtain 102, and a belt-like member 601 attached to the curtain 102. FIG. The curtain 102 has a gap between the walls 503 and 504 forming the curtain slot. Similarly, the curtain strip member 601 and the curtain 102 have a gap in the curtain track 501. In this way, the curtain can move freely up and down without excessive friction in the curtain track 501 and the curtain slot 520.

  The letter “P” and the arrow associated with the letter indicate the direction in which pressure can be applied during storm conditions. When sufficient pressure is applied to the curtain, the curtain bends slightly inward and the strip 601 engages the curtain track 501.

  Some pressure may be applied to the curtain when the curtain is closed. The direction and magnitude of this pressure can vary. The end cap 201 guides the curtain bar 103 and the curtain 102 downward in the guide slot 502 and the guide track 530.

  FIG. 6A shows a side guide 105 having a curtain track 501 and a guide track 530, a curtain 102 with a strip 601 attached to its edge located in the curtain track 501, and a guide slot 502. 6B is an enlarged partial view 600A of FIG. 6 showing the end cap 201 protruding from the curtain bar 103 and extending into the guide track 530. FIG. In FIG. 6A, a rib portion 805 on the second end portion of the end cap 201 press-fitted into the curtain bar 103 is shown. The rib portion 805 fits tightly into the groove 701 of the curtain bar 103, as best shown in FIG. The flange portion 803 of the end cap 201 has the same outer shape as the curtain bar 103.

  The first end portion 802 of the end cap 201 extends into the guide track 530. A space or gap 602 exists between the first end portion 802 and the walls 505 and 503 forming the guide track 530.

  7 is a cross-sectional view 700 of the lower frame 106, the curtain bar 103, and the curtain 102 taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 4A. The curtain 102 sits on the lip 901 of the curtain bar 103 and is bonded 704 at the interface between the curtain 102 and the bar 103. Other attachment methods such as mechanical fasteners and double-sided tapes may be used. The curtain 102 is further seated on the lip portion of the flange portion 803 of the end cap 201. The curtain bar 103 has an upper surface 702 that is inclined downward and outward so that water can be easily discharged toward the outside of the windbreak curtain device. Similarly, the curtain bar 103 includes a lower surface 703 that slopes downward and outward and matches the slope of the lower frame that also facilitates drainage when the curtain is partially or fully opened. .

  FIG. 7A shows yet another embodiment 700A of a curtain bar 700A in which the curtain 102 is secured to the curtain by a polymer strip 711A attached to the curtain 102. FIG.

FIG. 7B shows a curtain bar 710B in which the curtain 102 is secured to the bar by the compressive forces of the wedge 711B, barbs 712, 713 and 714 and curtain bar 710B surface 715, 716, 717 and 718 Another example 700B is shown. The wedge 711B is pushed into the recess 720B and engages the curtain with each barb.

  Referring to FIG. 6A, the gap 603 intervening in the curtain 102 and the end strip 601 allows the curtain to be drawn and retracted alternately as desired. Furthermore, the gap 602 interposed in the first end 802 of the end cap 201 allows the first end 802 to move in the guide track 530.

  FIG. 8 is a plan view 800 of the end cap 201. The first end portion 802 of the end cap 801 is located in the guide slot 502 of the side guides 104, 105. The flange portion 803 of the end cap 201 has the same contour as the curtain bar 103 in cross section. In particular, the end cap shown in FIG. 8A includes a lip 806 that matches the contour of the curtain bar 103 as shown in FIG. The end caps shown in FIGS. 8 and 8A are for the left side of the curtain bar 103 and are inserted into the groove 701 as shown in FIG.

  Since the end cap has a contour that matches the lip 901 of the curtain bar 103, the curtain slides behind the curtain bar so that the curtain and the bottom of the curtain bar form a single planar surface. The second end portion 804 is press-fitted into the groove 701 of the curtain bar 103. The raised land portion 805 of the end portion 804 frictionally fixes the end cap 801 to the curtain bar 103.

  FIG. 8A is a perspective view 800A of the end cap 201 further illustrating the above structure. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view 900 of the curtain bar. The lip portion 901 to which the curtain 102 is attached is shown most clearly in FIG. The curtain as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9 is equal in width to the lip so that the curtain 102 and curtain bar 103 can function as described below.

  FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the lower frame. The front side 1001 of the lower frame is vertical and faces outward. The inclined surface 1002 enables discharge of water, snow, dirt mixed with water and snow. An intermediate ramp 1003 interconnects the top ramp 1004 with the vertical frame 1005 of the lower frame.

  While the invention has been particularly described herein, those skilled in the art will perceive changes to the invention as described and disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. It will be appreciated that additions can be made.

It is a disassembled perspective view of a wind-proof curtain apparatus. FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 1 showing a relationship between a curtain and an end cap and a side guide portion. FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 1 showing assembly of a lower frame and a side guide. It is a perspective view of the wind-proof curtain apparatus in the state where the curtain was pulled out about 3/4 of the whole. It is a perspective view of the wind-proof curtain apparatus in the state by which the curtain was pulled out completely. It is a perspective view of a side guide part. It is sectional drawing of a side guide part. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. Side guides having curtain tracks and curtain slots and guide tracks and guide slots, curtains with strips attached to their edges located in the curtain track, protruding from the curtain bar and partially guided FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of FIG. 6 showing the end cap located in the slot. It is sectional drawing in line 7-7 of FIG. 4A. It is a figure of another Example of a curtain bar. It is a figure of the further another Example of a curtain bar. It is a top view of an end cap. It is a perspective view of an end cap. It is sectional drawing of a curtain bar. It is sectional drawing of a lower frame.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Wind-proof curtain apparatus exploded perspective view 101 Wind-proof curtain storage part, top support part 102 Curtain 103 Curtain bar, bottom bar 104 Left side guide part 105 Right side guide part 106 Bottom frame, bottom part support part 107 Corner key, bottom key 108 Corner part Key, bottom key 109 Top key 110 Vertical portion 111 Horizontal portion 112 Vertical portion 113 Horizontal portion 200 Enlarged partial view of FIG. 1 201 End cap 202 Groove 300 Enlarged partial view of FIG. 1 Groove 400 Windproof curtain device Perspective view 500 side guide perspective view 501 curtain track 502 guide slot 503 wall 504 wall 505 wall 506 first wall portion 507 second wall portion 508 third wall portion 509 first protrusion 510 second protrusion 520 Curtain slot 530 Guide track 600 Cross section along line 6-6 in FIG. FIG. 601 Strip member 602 Space or gap 603 Clearance 700 Cross-sectional view of lower frame 106, curtain bar 103, and curtain 102 in line 7-7 in FIG. 4A 701 Groove 702 Upper surface 703 Lower surface 704 Adhesion 710 712 Return 713 Return 714 Return 715 Return 716 Return 717 Return 718 Return 720, 720B Indentation 800 Plan view of the end cap 201 801 End cap 802 First end portion 803 Flange portion 804 Second end portion 805 Rib portion 806 Lip Section 900 Curtain bar sectional view 901 Lip section 1000 Lower frame sectional view 1001 Lower frame front side 1002 Inclined surface 1003 Middle inclined surface 1004 Top inclined surface 1005 Lower frame vertical surface P Direction in which pressure can be applied during storm conditions

Claims (10)

  A curtain having a left side edge, a right side edge and a bottom; a curtain bar attached to the bottom of the curtain; an end cap attached to each end of the curtain bar; and the side of the curtain A belt-like member attached to the edge, a frame including first and second side guide portions, and a top support portion and a bottom support portion attached to the side guide portion, each of the side guide portions being substantially A main body extending in a longitudinal direction and having a rectangular shape, wherein the main bodies of the lateral guide portions are a longitudinally extending curtain track and curtain slot and a longitudinally extending guide track and guide slot. The curtain is movable between a first retracted position and a plurality of second deployed positions, and is attached to the edge and the edge of the curtain. The strip-shaped member is positioned in the curtain track and the curtain slot, the end cap includes a flange portion and a guide portion, the flange portion is press-fitted into the end portion of the curtain bar, and the guide portion is the guide track and Windproof curtain device located in the guide slot.   The wind curtain apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the curtain bar is bonded to the curtain.   The windshield curtain device according to claim 1, wherein the curtain bar includes a groove, and the end cap is press-fitted into the groove.   The windshield curtain device according to claim 1, wherein the curtain bar includes a wedge having a barb on a surface, and the curtain bar is pressed against the curtain by the wedge.   The windshield curtain device according to claim 3, wherein the end cap includes at least one rib portion on the end cap, and the at least one rib portion frictionally engages the groove of the curtain bar.   The windproof curtain device according to claim 1, wherein the bottom support portion is a lower frame.   The windproof curtain device according to claim 1, wherein the top support portion is a storage portion.   The windshield curtain device according to claim 1, wherein the curtain is constrained by the curtain slot and the top and bottom support portions, and the entire periphery is sealed in close contact with the curtain slot.   The windproof curtain device according to claim 7, wherein the top support portion is a curtain storage portion, and the bottom support portion is a lower frame. A frame structure comprising first and second side guide portions, a curtain storage and drawer storage portion, and a bottom lower frame attached to the side guide portion, each side guide portion having a substantially rectangular shape. And a frame structure including a curtain track and a curtain slot extending in the longitudinal direction, and a guide track and a guide slot extending in the longitudinal direction. ,
A curtain composed of a side edge, a top and a bottom, each side edge including a belt-like member attached to the curtain;
A curtain bar attached to the bottom of the curtain and having a first end and a second end, and a flange that is interengaged with the end of the curtain bar and press-fitted into the end A first end cap and a second end cap each including a portion, each of the first end cap and the second end cap further including a guide portion extending from the curtain bar;
When the curtain is alternately pulled out and retracted, the guide portion of each end cap is located in its respective guide track and guide slot and has the strip member attached to itself. The windproof curtain device, wherein the edge of each of the curtains is located within its respective curtain track and curtain slot.

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