Abstract:
A storm curtain apparatus is disclosed and claimed which includes a curtain having a left side edge, a right side edge and a bottom. A curtain bar is affixed to the bottom of the curtain. End caps are affixed to each end of the curtain bar and strips are affixed to the side edges of the curtain. A supporting frame includes first and second side guides, a top support and a bottom support affixed to the side guides. Each of the side guides include a generally rectangularly shaped and longitudinally extending body. Each body of each side guide includes a longitudinally extending curtain track and slot and a longitudinally extending guide track and slot. The curtain is movable between a first, stored, position and a plurality of second, deployed, positions. The edges of the curtain with the strips affixed thereto reside in the curtain tracks and slots and the end caps partially reside in the guide slots.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention is in the field of storm curtains sometimes referred to as windlocking curtains or hurricane curtains.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Storm curtains are used to protect buildings during violent storms such as hurricanes. U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,639 B1 (Apparatus And Method For Windlocking A Building Opening), U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,039 B1 (Apparatus And Method For Windlocking A Building Opening), U.S. Pat. No. 6,257,305 B1 (Method And Apparatus For Driving And Storing A Covering) U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,593 B1 (Access Panel For Operating An In Wall Curtain System And Method Of Using Same), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,250 B2 (Apparatus And Method For Windlocking A Building Opening) assigned to Wayne-Dalton Corp. disclose, among other things, building construction industry requirements for hurricane-prone areas such as Florida and the Gulf of Mexico States. The disclosures of the aforementioned patents are incorporated herein by reference hereto. Further the aforementioned patents describe wind conditions during hurricanes and other violent storms.  
           [0003]    When a building envelope is breached devastating pressure differentials cause large amounts of damage. Kinetic energy due to the velocity of the fluid (wind) is proportional to the square of the velocity. Energy from the wind, therefore, pressurizes the interior of a home or other structure which in combination with the profile of the roof makes the roof, in effect, act like an airplane wing causing it to blow off the remaining structure.  
           [0004]    During a storm, wind applied to a building or a building opening such as a door or a window is not constant. Wind varies and fluctuates in magnitude (force) and direction with respect to time during, before and after a storm. While it is desirable to deploy protective devices before violent winds attack a building such deployment does not always occur. Sometimes deployment of the protective devices occurs during conditions which are quite windy.  
           [0005]    The present invention provides a full perimeter seal by virtue of the curtain engaging the storm curtain canister, the side guides and the sill.  
           [0006]    Therefore, there is a need to have a storm curtain frame which is capable of being deployed in stormy conditions while the wind is blowing, fluctuating and varying. There is also a need for a storm curtain which provides strength and rigidity during a storm.  
           [0007]    Therefore, there is a need to have a storm curtain which has a bottom bar affixed to the curtain which stablizes the curtain during deployment, for example, raising and lowering the curtain as well as full deployment of the curtain in the completely lowered position.  
           [0008]    The invention described and claimed hereinbelow solves the aforementioned problems and others.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    A storm curtain apparatus is disclosed and claimed which includes a curtain having a left side edge, a right side edge and a bottom. A curtain bar is affixed to the bottom of the curtain. The curtain is preferably a polymeric curtain and can be single ply, double ply or triple ply. The strips affixed to the edges of the curtain are preferably polymeric and can be glued, welded ultrasonically, rf welded, microwave welded, or induction welded as disclosed in patent application Ser. No. 10/322,965 filed Dec. 18, 2002, entitled Method and Apparatus For Manufacturing A Flexible Curtain. Alternatively, the curtain may be made out of another material such as a woven material or a material being a composite which includes Kevlar®, a trademark of Dupont.  
           [0010]    Nylon end caps are affixed to each end of the curtain bar and strips are affixed to the side edges of the curtain. A supporting frame includes first and second side guides, a top support and a bottom support affixed to the side guides. Each of the side guides include a generally rectangularly shaped and longitudinally extending body. 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 is in communication with the longitudinally extending curtain slot. Likewise, the longitudinally extending guide track is in communication with the longitudinally extending curtain slot.  
           [0011]    The curtain is movable between a first, stored, position and a plurality of second, deployed, positions. Ordinarily the curtain will be either fully open in good weather conditions or fully closed in storm conditions. The edges of the curtain with the strips affixed thereto reside in the curtain slots and the end caps partially reside in the guide slots.  
           [0012]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a frame assembly which provides stability and guidance when lowering the curtain from the first position (open) to the second position (closed) during storm conditions.  
           [0013]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a frame assembly which assists in stabilizing when it is lowered from the curtain from the first position (open) to the second position (closed) during storm conditions.  
           [0014]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a frame assembly which includes longitudinally extending side guides having longitudinally extending curtain tracks and slots and longitudinally extending guide tracks and guide slots. It is a further object of the present invention to stabilize the guides with a bottom sill and a canister (top support) from which the curtain may be dispensed and stored.  
           [0015]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a frame assembly which in combination with a curtain having edges and strips affixed thereto retains the curtain under wind load.  
           [0016]    It is an object ofthe present invention to provide a frame assembly which guides the curtain with minimal friction as the curtain is lowered from its first, open position to its second, closed position. The curtain has edges with strips affixed thereto. The curtain and strips reside in curtain slots in each side guide of the frame. A bottom bar having end caps on each end thereof is affixed to the curtain. Each of the end caps slidingly engage a guide slot in each of the side guides. End caps engage the guide slots and the curtain and strips attached thereto engage the curtain slots and enable raising and lowering the curtain with wind buffeting the curtain.  
           [0017]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a frame assembly which includes a bottom sill for supporting the curtain and the curtain bar when the curtain is fully deployed, i.e., when the curtain is in its second position. In its second position the bottom of the curtain, which is attached to and supported by the curtain bar, rests against the sill of the frame.  
           [0018]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a lightweight curtain bar affixed to the curtain which adds rigidity to the curtain and prevents flapping of the curtain in the wind when it is deployed.  
           [0019]    These and additional objects of the invention will be best understood when reference is made to the Brief Description of the Invention and Claims which follow herein below. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the storm curtain apparatus.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is an enlarged portion of FIG. 1 illustrating the relationship of the curtain and end cap to a side guide.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is an enlarged portion of FIG. 1 illustrating the assembly of the sill and the side guide.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the storm curtain apparatus with the curtain dispensed approximately three-fourths of the way down.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the storm curtain apparatus with the curtain fully dispensed.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a side guide.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of a side guide.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines  6 - 6  of FIG. 4.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6A is an enlargement of FIG. 6 illustrating a side guide having a curtain track and curtain slot as well as a guide track and guide slot, a curtain with a strip affixed to its edge residing in the curtain track, and an end cap protruding from the curtain bar and residing partially in the guide slot.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along the lines  7 - 7  of FIG. 4A.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 7A another embodiment of a curtain bar.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 7B is another embodiment of a curtain bar.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 8 is a plan view of an end cap.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 8A is a perspective view of an end cap.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the curtain bar.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the sill. 
     
    
       [0036]    A better understanding of the drawing figures will be had when reference is made to the Description of the Invention and Claims which follow hereinbelow.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0037]    [0037]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view  100  of the storm curtain apparatus illustrating, among other things, the storm curtain  102 , storm curtain canister  101 , side guides  104 ,  105 , curtain bar  103 , and sill  106 . The storm curtain canister, side guides and sill from a frame which is secured to a building adjacent an opening such as a window or door. The frame resides to the exterior of the opening and is oriented with the canister facing outward toward the exterior and the outdoor environment as is illustrated in FIG. 1.  
         [0038]    Alternatively, the frame may be oriented in the opposite direction with the curtain storm canister oriented toward the building. Although orienting the frame in this reverse manner creates some issues in regard to drainage and the like, it has the benefit of a flat surface projection.  
         [0039]    Side guides  104 ,  105  extend longitudinally while storm curtain canister  101  and sill  106  extend latitudinally. Top key  109  (top post) is shown in position to interengage left side guide  104 . Corner keys  107  and  108  are illustrated which secure sill  106  to the left side guide  104  and the right side guide  105 , respectively. Specifically, vertical portion  110  of corner key  107  interengages left side guide  104 , horizontal portion  111  of corner key  107  interengages bottom sill  106 , vertical portion  112  of corner key  108  interengages right side guide  105  and horizontal portion  113  of corner key  108  engages sill  106 . Another top key exists for the securement of side guide  105  to the storm curtain canister  101  but it is not shown due to the perspective nature of FIG. 1. Screws (unnumbered) secure the keys to the respective parts as illustrated in FIG. 1.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 2 is an enlarged portion  200  of FIG. 1 illustrating the relationship of the curtain  102  and end cap  201  to side guide  104 . End cap  201  is press fit into curtain bar  103  as illustrated. Channel  202  in side guide  104  receives top key  109 . A screw (unnumbered) secures the top key to the side guide  104 .  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 3 is an enlarged portion  300  of FIG. 1 illustrating the assembly of the sill  106  and the side guide  104  with corner key  107 . FIG. 3 illustrates channel  301  in sill  106  which receives horizontal portion  111  of corner key  107 . Vertical portion  110  interengages channel  202  of side guide  104 .  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 4 is a perspective view  400  of the storm curtain apparatus with the curtain dispensed approximately three-fourths of the way down. Bottom bar  103  which is preferably made of aluminum stabilizes curtain  102  as it moves downwardly from a stored position substantially within canister  101  to the fully dispensed position as illustrated in FIG. 4A. Side guides  104 ,  105  are also made of aluminum as is the canister  101  and sill  106 .  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 4A is a perspective view  400 A of the storm curtain apparatus with the curtain fully dispensed.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 5 is a perspective view  500  of a side guide such as side guide  104  illustrated in FIG. 1. Side guide  105  as illustrated in FIG. 1 is identical to side guide  104  illustrated in FIG. 5. FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view  500 A of a side guide. The side guides are generally rectangularly shaped in cross-section and extend longitudinally. The side guides include a longitudinally extending channel  202 , a longitudinally extending curtain track  501 , and a longitudinally extending guide track  530 . 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 . Curtain slot  520  is in communication with curtain track  501  and guide slot  502  is in communication with guide track  530 .  
         [0045]    Channel  202  is formed by first  506 , second  507  and third  508  longitudinally extending walls and first  509  and second  510  protrusions. Channel  202  receives top key  109  and bottom key  107  which are reciprocally shaped. The generally all aluminum construction is painted white with paint that can be applied 2-3 thousandths of an inch thick and does not run so as to minimize unwanted paint bumps and the like. However, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that any smooth finish paint is satisfactory.  
         [0046]    The curtain  102  of the invention is preferably a single ply polymeric curtain. However, the curtain may be a multi-ply polymeric curtain or some other type of curtain which is impervious to the passage of water under high pressure. The strips which are affixed to the edges of the curtain are preferably a polymeric material but those skilled in the art will recognize that they may be made from suitable non-polymeric materials. The strips may be affixed to the curtain in a multiplicity of ways such as those set forth in co-pending application Ser. No. 10/322,965 filed Dec. 18, 2002 which is incorporated herein by reference. The curtain may contain apertures in the edges which extend through the polymeric strips affixed to the edges. Alternatively, the curtain  102  and strips  601  may include notches which do not extend through the curtain and strips and which enable the curtain to be driven essentially by a gear having teeth which coact with the notches.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view  600  taken along the lines  6 - 6  of FIG. 4 and illustrates left  104  and right  105  side guides, curtain  102 , and strips  601  affixed to the curtain  102 . Curtain  102  has clearance between walls  503  and  504  which form the curtain slot. Likewise, the curtain strip  601  and curtain  102  have clearance within curtain track  501 . In this way the curtain may move freely upwardly and downwardly in the curtain track  501  and the curtain slot  520  without excessive friction.  
         [0048]    The letter “P” and the arrow associated therewith signify the direction from which pressure may be applied during a storm condition. As sufficient pressure is applied to the curtain, the curtain bends inwardly slightly and the strips  601  engage the curtain track  501 .  
         [0049]    During closure of the curtain some pressure may be applied to the curtain. The direction and magnitude of the pressure may be changing. End caps  201  guide curtain bar  103  and curtain  102  downwardly in the guide slot  502  and the guide track  530 .  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 6A is an enlarged portion  600 A of FIG. 6 illustrating side guide  105  having a curtain slot  501  and a guide slot  530 , a curtain  102  with a strip  601  affixed to its edge residing in the curtain slot  501 , and an end cap  201  protruding from the curtain bar  103  which resides in the guide slot  502  and extends into the guide track  530 . FIG. 6A illustrates ribs  805  on second end portion  804  of end cap  201  which are press fit into curtain bar  103 . Ribs  805  fit tightly into channel  701  of curtain bar  103  as is best viewed in FIG. 7. Flange  803  of end cap  201  has the same outer shape as the curtain bar  103 .  
         [0051]    First end portion  802  of end cap  201  extends into guide track  530 . Space or gap  602  exists between first end portion  802  and the walls  505  and  503  which form guide track  530 .  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view  700  of the sill  106 , curtain bar  103 , and curtain  102  along the lines  7 - 7  of FIG. 4A. Curtain  102  sits on lip  901  of curtain bar  103  and is glued  704  at the interface between curtain  102  and bar  103 . Other methods of attachment may be used such as mechanical fasteners and double-side tape. Curtain  102  also sits on the lip of the flange  803  of the end cap  201 . Curtain bar  103  has an upper surface  702  which is sloped downwardly and outwardly so as to facilitate the drainage of water toward the outside of the storm curtain apparatus. Similarly, curtain bar  103  includes a lower surface  703  which is sloped downwardly and outwardly and which mates with the slope of the sill which also facilitates drainage when the curtain is partially or fully open.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 7A is another embodiment  700 A of curtain bar  700 A wherein curtain  102  is secured to the curtain by polymeric strip  711 A which is affixed to the curtain  102 .  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 7B is another embodiment  700 B of a curtain bar  710 B wherein curtain  102  is secured to the bar by the compressive force of wedge  711 B and barbs  712 ,  713  and  714  thereon as well as barbs  715 ,  716 ,  717  and  718  on curtain bar  710 B. Wedge  711 B is forced into well  720 B and forces the curtain into engagement with the respective barbs.  
         [0055]    Referring to FIG. 6A, gap  603  intermediate curtain  102  and end strip  601  allows the curtain to be alternately dispensed and retracted as is deemed desirable. Further, gap  602  intermediate first end  802  of end cap  201  permits movement of first end  802  within guide track  530 .  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 8 is a plan view  800  of an end cap  201 . First end portion  802  of end cap  801  resides in the guide slot  502  of side guide  104 ,  105 . Flange portion  803  of end cap  201  has the same profile as the curtain bar  103  in cross-section. Specifically, the end cap illustrated in FIG. 8A includes a lip  806  which matches the profile of the curtain bar  103  as illustrated in FIG. 7. The end cap illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 8A is for the left side of the curtain bar  103  and will plug into the channel  701  as illustrated in FIG. 7.  
         [0057]    Since the end caps have a profile which matches the lip  901  on the curtain bar  103 , the curtain snugly fits behind the curtain bar and the curtain and the bottom of the curtain bar form one planar surface. Second end portion  804  is press fit into channel  701  of curtain bar  103 . Raised lands  805  on end portion  804  frictionally secure the end cap  801  to the curtain bar  103 .  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 8A is a perspective view  800 A of an end cap  201  which further illustrates the structure just described. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view  900  of the curtain bar. A lip  901  upon which curtain  102  is affixed is illustrated best in FIG. 9. Curtain  102  as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 9 is equal in width to the lip so that the curtain  102  and the curtain bar  103  can function as described hereinbelow.  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the sill. Front  1001  of the sill is vertical and faces outwardly. Sloped surface  1002  permits drainage of water, snow and dirt mixed with water and snow. Intermediate sloped surface  1003  interconnects the top sloped surface  1004  with the vertical face  1005  of the sill.  
         [0060]    While the invention has been described with particularity herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made to the invention as described and disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and the scope of the appended claims.