US3857432A

US3857432A - Curtain and attached air seal

Info

Publication number: US3857432A
Application number: US00420927A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Russell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-12-03
Filing date: 1973-12-03
Publication date: 1974-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-31

Abstract

An air seal gasket for attachment behind window curtains or drapes to reduce the flow of cold downward air currents in the winter and to reduce the flow of warm upward air currents in the summer. The gasket is secured to the rear of the curtain or drape with a pressure adhesive tape or similar continuous fastening device to permit removal for cleaning. Characteristics of the gasket are selected to suit the curtain or drape so that the appearance of the drape from within a room is not affected.

Description

United States Patent 1191 [111 3,857,432, Russell Dec. 31, 1974 [54] CURTAIN AND ATTACHED AIR SEAL 2,871,933 2/1959 Kroger 160/41 [76] Inventor: David E. Russell, 110 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville, Fla. 32202 [22] Filed: Dec. 3, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 420,927

[52] US. Cl. 160/124 [51] Int. Cl A47h 1/00 [58] Field of Search l60/4043,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,646,832 10/1927 Otto 160/40 2,122,608 7/1938 Harlow 49/496 2,320,125 5/1943 Goldmerstein 160/40 2,608,250 8/1952 Meyer 160/349 Primary Examiner-Peter M. Caun Attorney, Agent, or FirmGeorge H. Baldwin; Arthur G. Yeager 57 ABSTRACT An air seal gasket for attachment behind window curtains or drapes to reduce the flow of cold downward air currents in the winter and to reduce the flow of warm upward air currents in the summer. The gasket is secured to the rear of the curtain or drape with 1' pressure adhesive tape or similar continuous fastenin, device to permit removal for cleaning. Characteristics of the gasket are selected to suit the curtain 0r drape so that the appearance of the drape from within a room is not affected.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures CURTAIN AND ATTACHED AIR SEAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention The present invention relates to window drapes and curtains and more particularly to an accessory air seal gasket to block rising currents of warm air in the summer and descending currents of cold air in the winter.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is well known to Professional Engineers who design air conditioning and heating systems that rising convective currents of warm air behind interior window drapes and curtains add cooling loads to air conditioning systems, and that descending currents of cold air add heating loads to heating systems resulting in higher equipment installation costs and higher operating energy costs. In addition, the descending cold air currents in winter produce puddles of cold air on the surrounding floor causing discomfort to the feet of the room occupants.

The conditions present at windows where the room is protected from solar energy by means of interior drapes or curtains are described in Chapter 22, pages 402 through 406, of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Handbook of Fundamentals, 1972 Edition. An additional explanation of convective and radiant heat gains is found on pages 422 and 424 of this same reference. On a typical hot afternoon, with a western or southern exposure, a pocket of warm air will develop between the window glass and the drape or curtain. Approximately 58 percent of the solar heat being added to the room from the window will be in the form of radiant heat, and the remaining 42 percent will be in the form of convective heat. Blocking the currents of air rising from this pocket will reduce the convective heat being added to the room, while allowing the temperature of the pocket of warm air to increase. The increase in temperature of the pocket and drapes in turn, will incur a slight increase in radiant heat to the room and a slight increase in convective heat from the room side of the drapes, but the total net result will be a decrease in room cooling load due to increased radiation andconduction of heat outwards through the glass. The exact heat quantities involved depend upon the characteristics of the drapes employed and the physical dimensions involved.

The prior art patents found in a search are as follows: US. Pat. Nos. 2,298,783; 2,514,316; 2,608,250; 2,619,168; and 2,771,945. These patents, either alone or in any appropriate combination, fail to suggest or teach this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A principle object of the present invention is to provide gasket air seals behind window or glass wall drapes or curtains so as to minimize rising or descending currents of air, thereby reducing the cooling load imposed on the room air conditioning system and reducing the heating load on the room heating system. A top mounted gasket to reduce the summer cooling load alone may be employed, a bottom mounted gasket to reduce the winter heating load alonemay be employed, or a combination of both top and bottom mounted gaskets may be employed.

Another principle object of the present invention is to provide a gasket air seal material of light density which can be easily compressed into a very fiat volume when only a very slight pressure is applied, but will return back to its original full expanded volume when pressure is released, immediately or within a few minutes of the instant at which the pressure is released. These characteristics will permit the drapes or curtains to maintain their conventional, undulating appearance, without noticeable distortion, when the drapes or curtains are closed, open or in an intermediate position, and a viewer within the room will be unaware of the presence of the gasket.

Still another principle object of the present invention is to provide air gasket seals which can be repeatedly added to and removed from the drapes or curtains to permit cleaning of the curtains without damaging the gasket material.

Yet another principle object of the present invention is to provide air gasket seals which can be readily added to existing drapes and curtains, and which are sufficiently flexible to permit folding and/or drawing open of the drapes and curtains.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an air gasket seal design which, because of its simplicity, can be economically produced by conventional mass production methods and can be easily handled, packaged and distributed.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an air gasket seal which, when warm placed against a glass window .or wall so as to be visible from the outside, will lend itself to decoration and coloring.

An additional object of the present invention is to conserve energy in air conditioning systems. Energy costs are expected to rise drastically in future years, and wasted electrical energy is accompanied by both air pollution and water thermal pollution at power plant sites.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1, is an elevational view of typical window drapes in the closed position with an embodiment of the present invention installed therein;

FIG. 2, is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 11 of FIG. 1, or on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a slightly enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of FIG. 1, or on the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4, is a slightly enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of FIG. 1, or on the line 44 of FIG. 1, except that the drapes or curtains is shown compressed in a partially opened position;

F IG. 5, is a slightly enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, or on the line 44 of FIG. 1, and differs from FIG. 3 in that a drape or curtain having only slight undulations or pleats is depicted.

The drawings are illustrations only and changes may be made in the specific constructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, is a typical movable window drape or curtain shown hung in the closing position. Line 11 is the separation between the left and right halves. Dotted line 12 indicates the outline of a window behind the drape or curtain. The drape or curtain may be supported at the top on a track or rod with hooks or rings or by other means as are well known. The present invention is shown as a gasket assembly affixed to the rear of the drape or curtain as indicated by the broken lines at l3, l4, l5 and 16. The present invention is applied as a horizontal sealing means in the form of a gasket at location 13 to block rising warm air currents between the drape or curtain and the wall during summer and at location 14 to block descending cold air currents between the drape or curtain and the wall during winter. The present invention may be applied at either location 13 or location 14 alone, or at both locations simultaneously. As an option, the present invention may also be applied as a vertical gasket behind the drape or curtain at

locations

15 and 16 to block additional stray currents of air passing to the right and left.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing the assembly of the present invention in detail: 17 is a cross sectional view of the drape or curtain, I8 is the surface of the wall behind the drape 0r curtain, but can also represent a continuation of the window as a glass wall, 19 is a soft seal or gasket material and 20 is a means in the form a flexible tape for securing the gasket material to the drape or curtain. The gasket material 19 is any suitable soft fluffy material which can be easily compressed into a very flat configuration when a very gentle pressure is applied and which returns to its original shape when pressure is released, immediately or within a few minutes of the instant at which the pressure is released. A foamed plastic such as polyurathane of considerably less than one pound per cubic foot density and closed cell construction is preferred, although any suitable substance may be employed.

The air gasket air seal material 19 must have characteristics compatible with the weight and construction of the drape or curtain to which it is to be attached. Thus, a very light density material which will contract upon the application of a very gentle force will be required for a light weight drape or curtain, whereas, a material of slightly greater density having better air blocking characteristics may be employed with a heavy weight curtain. The gasket air seal material need not be a homogeneous material, but may be fabricated from one or more materials to produce the characteristics described hereinbefore; thus, a light paper, fabric or plastic sheet folded into a cellular construction, a sausagelike skin containing fibers, or any similar construction may be employed.

The dimensions of the air gasket material must be compatible with the dimensions and configuration of the drape or curtain to which it is to be attached. Thus, a larger air space between the drape or curtain and the wall requires a greater width of gasket, and a gasket at location 14, will generally require a greater width than a gasket at location 13 due to the more pronounced undulations at location 14.

20 is a continuous tape, cut to the desired dimensions, secured to gasket material 19, with glue or any other suitable means. The surface of tape 20 adjacent to drape or curtain 17, is coated with a strong adhesive material so that the assembly of 19 and 20 can be secured to 17 and can be repeatedly removed from 17 and secured to 17. In lieu of an adhesive, any suitable means of continuous fastening, such as snap-buttons or hook-and-loop type fasteners, employing minute, matching fiber hooks and loops, may be employed to secure the assembly of 19 and 20 to 17.

In FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, like reference characters denote like parts. FIG. 3 shows the general arrangement with the drape or curtain closed over the window and 19 expanded so as to block the passage of air currents, except for small voids. Because of the lowforce characteristics of 19, the presence of the gasket has little effect on the appearance of the drape or curtam.

FIG. 4, shows the drapes compressed to a partially closed position. 19 is readily compressed so that the presence of the gasket has little effect on the appearance of the drape or curtain.

FIG. 5, shows a common type drape or curtain in which the undulations or pleats are of a minor charac' ter when the drape or curtain is drawn closed across the window. The gasket 19 assumes its simplest form when the drape or curtain is closed over the window, and readily compresses when the drape or curtain is pulled open.

The function of this present invention has been demonstrated by a model constructed by the inventor. A gasket assembly of 30 inches length with approximately 2 inches width and 2 inches height was secured to a drape and tested in the open, partially open and closed positions, demonstrating the principles described herein. The drape used was I. C. Penny Co., PENN PREST pinch-pleated drapes with acrylic foam backing. The gasket material employed was 0.75 pounds per cubic foot polyester fiber, and the test tape was constructed by stapling two strips of one inch wide pressure adhesive tape back-to-back.

While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claim to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination a curtain for hanging over a window or the like subject to convective air currents in space between a window or the like and said curtain, and a sealing means including connecting means attached to said curtain and extending substantially fully thereacross to dispose said sealing means in a generally horizontal position in space between said curtain and adjacent a window or the like when said curtain is hung in a position overlying a window or the like, said sealing means being effective to close a portion of space between said curtain and adjacent a window or the like thereby to reduce vertical air flow therefrom, said sealing means being foldable with said curtain.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said sealing means includes a soft and low density bulky material.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said sealing means includes a readily expansible and contractible material.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said sealing means includes a fluffy material readily compressible and resilient.

5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes an elongated flexible tape attached to said curtain and wherein said sealing means includes an elongated soft and compressible material attached to and along said tape.

6. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes an elongated flexible tape.

7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said tape includes adhesive for removable attachment to said curtain.

8. The combination according to claim 1 further comprising another sealing means substantially identical to said sealing means and spaced therefrom to dispose one said sealing means above a window or the like and the other said sealing means below a window or the like whereby rising warm air flow in the summer and descending cold air flow in the winter are inhibited.

9. The combination according to claim 2 wherein each said connecting means includes an elongated flexible tape attached to said curtain and wherein each said sealing means includes an elongated soft and compressible material attached respectively to and along said tape.

10. The combination according to claim 8 further comprising a pair of spaced additional sealing means substantially identical to said one and other sealing means, said pair of additional sealing means each including connecting means attached to said curtain to dispose said sealing means in a generally vertical position in space between said curtain and adjacent a window or the like when said curtain is hung in a position overlying a window or the like, said pair of spaced vertically disposed sealing means being located adjacent respective sides of a window or the like thereby further reducing air flow between said curtain and adjacent a window or the like.

Claims

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said sealing means includes a soft and low density bulky material.
3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said sealing means includes a readily expansible and contractible material.
4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said sealing means includes a fluffy material readily compressible and resilient.
5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes an elongated flexible tape attached to said curtain and wherein said sealing means includes an elongated soft and compressible material attached to and along said tape.
6. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes an elongated flexible tape.
7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said tape includes adhesive for removable attachment to said curtain.
8. The combination according to claim 1 further comprising another sealing means substantially identical to said sealing means and spaced therefrom to dispose one said sealing means above a window or the like and the other said sealing means below a window or the like whereby rising warm air flow in the summer and descending cold air flow in the winter are inhibited.
9. The combination according to claim 2 wherein each said connecting means includes an elongated flexible tape attached to said curtain and wherein each said sealing means includes an elongated soft and compressible material attached respectively to and along said tape.
10. The combination according to claim 8 further comprising a pair of spaced additional sealing means substantially identical to said one and other sealing means, said pair of additional sealing means each including connecTing means attached to said curtain to dispose said sealing means in a generally vertical position in space between said curtain and adjacent a window or the like when said curtain is hung in a position overlying a window or the like, said pair of spaced vertically disposed sealing means being located adjacent respective sides of a window or the like thereby further reducing air flow between said curtain and adjacent a window or the like.