Quick release curtain closure system

A closure apparatus for covering a portal is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the closure apparatus includes a curtain assembly having one or more curtains and a spindle assembly mounted superjacent a portal on an exterior of the portal. The spindle assembly is operably engaged with the curtain assembly to extend the curtain assembly to cover the portal and retract the curtain assembly to uncover the portal. Channels disposed on lateral sides of the portal engage the curtain assembly when the curtain assembly is extended to cover the portal. Front channel members, which are pivotably connected to corresponding adjacent supports, pivot to release the curtain assembly from engagement with the channels upon application of sufficient force to the curtain assembly to allow egress or ingress through the portal when the closure apparatus is not operational, for example, during loss of power. Related methods of operation of the closure apparatus are also disclosed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to portal closures, and, more particularly, to a closure apparatus that includes curtain(s) releasably secured about the portal to cover the portal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various closure devices cover and uncover a portal using one or more curtains received by one or more spindles. The spindle(s) may be mounted superjacent the portal and the one or more curtains may be extended by being unwound from the spindle(s) in order to cover the portal and may be retracted by winding onto the spindle(s) in order to uncover the portal. The portal may be, for example, a door, entryway, window, or passageway and the portal may, for example, pass between an exterior and an interior configured as a freezer, cold room, storage room, warehouse, garage, or various other commercial or industrial space.

A user located within the interior with the one or more curtains covering the portal must retract the one or more curtains thereby uncovering the portal in order to egress through the portal. Unfortunately, the closure device may fail so that the one or more curtains cannot be retracted thereby trapping the user interior, which could be dangerous. Various emergencies such as fire, chemical release, explosions, steam release, or flooding may occur interior the portal and the time waiting for the one or more curtains to retract in order to egress through the portal may be deleterious. Also, malfunction such as electrical malfunction or mechanical malfunction may prevent retraction of the one or more curtains thereby preventing egress from the interior or ingress into the interior from the exterior.

Accordingly, there is a need for improved apparatus as well as related methods that cover and uncover a portal using one or more curtains received by one or more spindles while allowing egress through the portal when the portal is covered by the one or more curtains.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other needs and disadvantages may be overcome by the closure apparatus and related methods of operation of the closure apparatus disclosed herein. Additional improvements and advantages may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of the present disclosure.

In various aspects, the closure apparatus disclosed herein includes a curtain assembly having one or more curtains and a spindle assembly mounted superjacent a portal. The spindle assembly is operably engaged with the curtain assembly to extend the curtain assembly to cover said portal and retract the curtain assembly to uncover said portal, in various aspects. Front channel members define, in part, channels located on lateral sides of the portal in cooperation with the spindle assembly and the curtain assembly, and the channels engage the curtain assembly when the curtain assembly is extended to cover the portal, in various aspects. The front channel members, which are pivotably connected to corresponding adjacent supports, pivot to release the curtain assembly from engagement with the channels upon application of a force equal to or greater than a release force to the curtain assembly. Upon release of the curtain assembly from the channels, a user may push the curtain assembly aside in order to pass through the portal. Related methods of operation of the closure apparatus are disclosed herein.

This summary is presented to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein as a prelude to the detailed description that follows below. Accordingly, this summary is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.

The Figures are exemplary only, and the implementations illustrated therein are selected to facilitate explanation. The number, position, relationship and dimensions of the elements shown in the Figures to form the various implementations described herein, as well as dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, flow and similar requirements are explained herein or are understandable to a person of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure. Where used in the various Figures, the same numerals designate the same or similar elements. Furthermore, when the terms “top,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “forward,” “rear,” “first,” “second,” “interior,” “exterior,” and similar terms are used, the terms should be understood in reference to the orientation of the implementations shown in the drawings and are utilized to facilitate description thereof. Use herein of relative terms such as generally, about, approximately, essentially, may be indicative of engineering, manufacturing, or scientific tolerances such as ±0.1%, ±1%, ±2.5%, ±5%, or other such tolerances, as would be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A closure apparatus is disclosed herein that may be released at least in part from engagement about the portal, for example, to allow escape through the portal during an emergency, or to allow access or escape through the portal in the event of malfunction of the closure apparatus. In various aspects, the closure apparatus includes a curtain assembly comprising one or more curtains and a spindle assembly mounted superjacent the portal. The spindle assembly is operably engaged with the curtain assembly to extend the curtain assembly to cover the portal and to retract the curtain assembly to uncover the portal. Channels located at lateral margins of the portal receive the curtain assembly when the curtain assembly is extended to cover the portal. The channels are formed, in part, by front channel members, and the front channel members pivot to release the curtain assembly from engagement with the channels upon application of a force F greater than or equal to a release force FRto the curtain assembly. When the curtain assembly is released from engagement with the channels by pivoting of the front channel members, a user may pass through the portal by pushing aside at least portions of the curtain assembly.

Accordingly, for example, the user may egress from the interior through the portal when the curtain assembly covers the portal by releasing the engagement of at least portions of the curtain assembly with the channels without retracting the curtain assembly from the portal. Thus, the user does not need to wait for retraction of the curtain assembly from the portal before egressing through the portal, which may be advantageous in an emergency situation or in the event of malfunction of the closure apparatus. In addition, the curtain assembly may be released from engagements with the channels to allow ingress through the portal from exterior to interior, for example, in the event of malfunction or emergency.

It should be recognized that theFIG. 1implementation may be reversed in other implementations so that, for example, structures14,16are spaced apart at lateral margins interior93of portal99, spindle assembly22is mounted superjacent portal99on the interior93, and curtain assembly18is positioned interior93of portal99in cooperation with structures14,16and spindle assembly22.

Curtain assembly18may include dual curtains17,19windingly received on spindles (not shown) rotatably mounted within spindle assembly22. Rotation of the spindles allows curtain assembly18to be extended from curtain assembly18to cover portal99or retracted into curtain assembly18to uncover portal99. A user may, for example, extend or retract curtain assembly18to cover or uncover portal99as the user desires using control13(seeFIG. 2) located interior93of portal99, in this implementation. Spindle(s) of spindle assembly22are rotated by reversible drive electric motor(s) (not shown), and control13is in operative communication with the electric motor(s) to control the extension or retraction of curtain assembly18, in this implementation. Control13may be located exterior97of portal99, or multiple controls, such as control13, may be located interior93and exterior97of portal99, in various other implementations. Spindle assembly22may include various other mechanisms that allow the curtain assembly18to be extended to cover portal99or retracted to uncover portal99, including spindle(s) rotated solely by mechanical user actuated mechanisms, in other implementations, as would be readily recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure.

Structures14,16and spindle assembly22may be formed of steel, aluminum, fiberglass, various plastics, and combinations thereof, as would be readily recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure. Curtains17,19of curtain assembly18may be formed, for example, of various fabrics or textiles such as canvas, burlap or woven polymers, flexible metal mesh, flexible sheets of plastic such as polyester or polyethylene, or combinations thereof, in various implementations.

FIGS. 1, 4Aillustrates portions of closure apparatus10including structures14,16and curtain assembly18with closure apparatus10in engaged state101. As illustrated, curtain assembly18is extended to cover portal99, and curtain assembly18is attached to structures14,16in engaged state101. Structure14, as illustrated inFIG. 4A, includes support36, rear channel member32, and front channel member34. Support36may be formed as a unitary structure with braces, such as braces31a,31billustrated inFIG. 5A, insertably received within cavity35defined within support36, or support36may be formed of multiple panels secured surroundingly to braces, such as braces31a,31b. Thus, braces, such as braces31a,31b, are disposed within cavity35defined within support36. Braces, such as braces31a,31b, may allow for fabrication of support36from the multiple panels either as a pre-assembled unit or assembly in-situ, in various implementations, and the braces may add structural strength to support36. As illustrated inFIG. 4A, structure16, which is the mirror image of structure14, includes support66, rear channel member62, and front channel member64. Braces, such as braces61a,61billustrated inFIG. 5B, are received within cavity65defined within support66.

As illustrated inFIG. 4A, rear channel members32,62are secured fixedly to support36,66, respectively, for example, by being formed as a unitary structure with at least portions of support36,66, by fastener, by adhesive, or by weld. Rear channel members32,62in combination with supports36,66are secured against lateral margins of portal99, as illustrated.

As illustrated inFIG. 4A, front channel member34includes channel member portion37and flanges, such as flanges39a,39b,39cillustrated inFIG. 6B, set generally at right angles with channel member portion37in an L-shaped configuration, and flanges, such as flanges39a,39b,39c, are disposed lengthwise along channel member portion37. Flanges, such as flanges39a,39b,39c, illustrated inFIG. 6B, are insertably received within cavity35through corresponding slots, such as slots43a,43b,43cillustrated inFIGS. 5A, 6A, in support36to hingedly secure front channel member34with support36. Notches in the flanges, such as notches41a,41b,41cin flanges39a,39b,39c, respectively, engage the flanges with portions of support36proximate the slots, such as slots43a,43b,43c, to retain the flanges in the slots, in this implementation.

Similarly, as illustrated inFIG. 4A, front channel member64includes channel member portion67and flanges, such as flanges69a,69b,69cillustrated inFIG. 6C, set generally at right angles with channel member portion67and disposed lengthwise along channel member portion67. Flanges, such as flanges69a,69b,69c, are insertably received within cavity65through corresponding slots, such as slots73a,73b,73cillustrated inFIG. 5B, in support66to hingedly secure front channel member64with support66. Notches in the flanges, such as notches71a,71b,71cin flanges69a,69b,69c, respectively, engage the flanges with portions of support66proximate the slots, such as slots73a,73b,73c, to retain the flanges in the slots.

When closure apparatus10is in engaged state101, as illustrated inFIG. 4A, flanges, such as flanges39a,39b,39c, are magnetically engaged with magnets located on support36, such as magnets42a,42b,42cillustrated inFIG. 5A, to hold channel member portion37of front channel member34generally parallel with rear channel member32thereby defining channel25. Similarly, flanges, such as flanges69a,69b,69c, are magnetically engaged with magnets located on support66, such as magnets72a,72b,72cillustrated inFIG. 5B, to hold channel member portion67of front channel member64generally parallel with rear channel member62thereby defining channel28when closure apparatus10is in engaged state101.

In engaged state101, curtain assembly18is received securably releasably in channels25,28with curtain17of curtain assembly18attached to rear channel members32,62by engagement of rear curtain fasteners27a,27bwith rear channel member fasteners33a,33blocated on rear channel members32,62and with curtain19of curtain assembly18attached to front channel members34,64by engagement of front curtain fasteners29a,29bwith front channel member fasteners38a,38blocated on front channel members34,64, respectively. Rear curtain fasteners27a,27band front curtain fasteners29a,29b, may be located proximate sides24,26of curtain assembly18to engage with rear channel member fasteners33a,33band front channel member fasteners38a,38blocated generally within channels25,28. Rear curtain fasteners27a,27b, rear channel member fasteners33a,33b, front curtain fasteners29a,29b, and front channel member fasteners38a,38bmay be various corresponding fasteners such as hook and loop fasteners, magnetic fasteners such as magnetic strips, or combinations thereof.

Curtain assembly18cooperates with spindle assembly22to engage or disengage curtain rear curtain fasteners27a,27bwith rear channel member fasteners33a,33band front curtain fasteners29a,29bwith front channel member fasteners38a,38b, respectively, as curtain assembly18is respectively extended or retracted, in various implementations. Exemplary implementations of curtain assembly18and exemplary implementations of spindle assembly22are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,138,739, 7,828,037, 8,439,099, and International Patent Application No. PCT/US2017/022471, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties herein.

As illustrated inFIG. 4B, flanges, such as flanges39a,39b,39c, are magnetically engaged with magnets, such as magnets44a,44b,44c, to hold channel member portion37generally perpendicular with respect to rear channel member32thereby opening channel25when closure apparatus10is in released state103. For example, channel25alters from a U-shaped configuration in engaged state101illustrated inFIG. 4Ato an L-shaped configuration in released state103illustrated inFIG. 4B.

Similarly, when closure apparatus10is in released state103, flanges, such as flanges69a,69b,69c, are magnetically engaged with magnets, such as magnets74a,74b,74c, to hold channel member portion67generally perpendicular with respect to rear channel member62thereby opening channel28, as illustrated inFIG. 4B. Channel28is thus altered from a U-shaped configuration in engaged state101illustrated inFIG. 4Ato an opened L-shaped configuration in released state103illustrated inFIG. 4B. With channels25,28opened as illustrated inFIG. 4B, curtain assembly18is operable to disengage from rear channel members32,62and from front channel members34,64allowing curtain assembly18to swing freely from spindle assembly22as illustrated inFIGS. 2, 3when closure apparatus10is in released state103. With closure apparatus10in released state103, a user may push the curtain assembly aside in order to egress or ingress through portal99.

Magnets, such as magnets44a,44b,44c,74a,74b,74c, are mounted on stops, such as stops45a,45b,45c,75a,75b,75c, respectively, that limit the pivot of front channel members34,64, for example, to approximately 90°. In other implementations, front channel members34,36may pivot to angles other than approximately 90°. Stops, such as stops45a,45b,45c,75a,75b,75c, may be welded or fastened to supports36,66, or may be formed by bending portions of supports36,66, in various implementations. In some implementations, front channel members34,64may be formed of steel or similar ferrous material to be magnetically attachable with magnets, such as magnets42a,42b,42c,44a,44b,44c,72a,72b,72c,74a,74b,74c. In other implementations, magnets or magnetic material may be disposed about the flanges, such as flanges39a,39b,39cand about flanges69a,69b,69cto engage with magnets42a,42b,42c,44a,44b,44c, and magnets72a,72b,72c,74a,74b,74c, respectively. Hook and loop fasteners or other releasable fasteners and combinations of releasable fasteners may be substituted for magnets42a,42b,42c,44a,44b,44c,72a,72b,72c,74a,74b,74c, in other implementations.

In operation, curtain assembly18may be extended forth from spindle assembly22and secured over portal99by attachment with structures14,16to cover portal99, and curtain assembly18may be retracted generally intro spindle assembly22to uncover portal99as directed by the user, for example, using control13in operable communication with one or more spindles within spindle assembly22.

Closure apparatus10is in exemplary engaged state101when curtain assembly18extends forth to cover portal99and curtain assembly18is received in channels25,28of structures14,16, respectively. When closure apparatus10is in engaged state101, the user located, for example, interior93of portal99may apply a force F (seeFIG. 2) against curtain assembly18generally normal to curtain assembly18in order to alter closure apparatus from engaged state101to exemplary released state103. Force F is then distributed from curtain assembly18to front channel members34,64causing front channel members34,64to pivot hingedly approximately 90° thereby altering channel member portions37,67from a parallel alignment with rear channel members32,62to a perpendicular alignment with rear channel members32,62, respectively. Flanges, such as flanges39a,39b,39c,69a,69b,69c, are released from magnetically engagement with magnets, such as magnets42a,42b,42c,72a,72b,72c, into engagement with magnets, such as magnets44a,44b,44c,74a,74b,74c, as channel member portions37,67are altered by application of force F from being in parallel alignment with rear channel members32,62in engaged state101to being in perpendicular alignment with rear channel members32,62in released state103, respectively. Magnets, such as magnets44a,44b,44c,74a,74b,74c, may exert greater magnetic force on front channel members34,36than magnets, such as magnets42a,42b,42c,72a,72b,72c, to assist in pivoting of front channel members34,36as closure apparatus10is altered from engaged state101to disengaged state103by application of force F.

Force F is equal to or greater in magnitude than the release force FRthat is required to release flanges, such as flanges39a,39b,39c,69a,69b,69c, from magnetic engagement with magnets, such as magnets42a,42b,42c,72a,72b,72c, in various implementations. Accordingly, magnets, such as magnets42a,42b,42c,72a,72b,72c, as well as the number and size of flanges, such as flanges39a,39b,39c,69a,69b,69c, may be selected to size release force FR. For example, release force FRmay be sized to be greater than other anticipated ambient forces on curtain assembly18such as air current forces or minor impacts in order to prevent ambient forces from inadvertently altering closure apparatus10from engaged state101into released state103.

As force F is applied against curtain assembly18, rear curtain fasteners27a,27bdisengage from rear channel member fasteners33a,33bthereby disengaging curtain assembly18from rear channel members32,62. Front curtain fasteners29a,29bdisengage from front channel member fasteners38a,38bthereby disengaging curtain assembly18from front channel members34,64as front channel members34,64pivot to align channel member portions37,67perpendicularly to rear channel members32,62, respectively. With channel member portions37,67perpendicular to rear channel members32,62, respectively, curtain assembly18thus hangs freely from spindle assembly22disengaged from rear channel members32,62and disengaged from front channel members34,64, in released state103allowing the user to egress from interior93to exterior97through portal99by pushing aside curtain assembly18, which is now detached from portal99.

The user may alter closure apparatus from engaged state101to released state103in order to ingress from exterior97to interior93through portal99, and the user may push aside curtain assembly18, which is detached from portal99, as the user ingresses from exterior97to interior93through portal99. For example, the user may pull on front channel members34,64and curtain assembly18by hand in order to alter closure apparatus from engaged state101to released state103while the user is positioned exteriorly. One or more straps or other such grippable element(s) may be disposed about curtain assembly18exteriorly that facilitate alteration of the closure apparatus from engaged state101to released state103by the user located on the exterior97, in various implementations. The front channel members34,64may be formed with grippable features that facilitate hand rotation of front channel members34,64from exterior97, in various implementations.

The user may alter closure apparatus10from released state103to engaged state101by retracting curtain assembly18generally into spindle assembly22and then manually pivoting front channel members34,64from perpendicular alignment of channel member portions37,67with rear channel members32,62to parallel alignment of channel member portions37,67with rear channel members32,62thereby re-forming U-shaped channels25,28, respectively. Curtain assembly18may then be extended from spindle assembly22into channels25,28to cover portal99.

An exemplary method of operation500of closure apparatus10is illustrated inFIG. 7. Method of operation500is entered at step501with closure apparatus10in engaged state101, per step505.

At step510, the user, who is located on the interior93of portal99applies force F, which is equal to or greater than release force FR, against curtain assembly18generally normal to curtain assembly18in order to alter closure apparatus from engaged state101into released state103.

At step515, rear curtain fasteners27a,27bare disengaged from rear channel member fasteners33a,33bthereby disengaging curtain assembly18from rear channel members32,62variously under the impetus of force F.

At step520, flanges, such as flanges39a,39b,39c,69a,69b,69c, are released from magnetic engagement with magnets, such as magnets42a,42b,42c,72a,72b,72c, as channel members34,64pivot under force F.

At step525, front curtain fasteners29a,29bdisengage from front channel member fasteners38a,38bthereby disengaging curtain assembly18from front channel members34,64as front channel members34,64are pivoted.

At step530, front channel members34,64pivot 90° thereby altering channel member portions37,67from being in parallel alignment with rear channel members32,62to being in perpendicular alignment with rear channel members32,62, respectively, under the impetus of force F.

At step535, flanges, such as flanges39a,39b,39c,69a,69b,69c, magnetically engage magnets, such as magnets44a,44b,44c,74a,74b,74c, to hold channel member portions37,67in perpendicular alignment with rear channel members32,62.

At step540the curtain assembly18is released from engagement with channels25,28. Curtain assembly18hangs freely from spindle assembly22disengaged from rear channel members32,62and disengaged from front channel members34,64, in released state103.

At step545, the user egresses through portal99from interior93to exterior97by pushing aside curtain assembly18. Thus, the user may escape from interior93through portal99without retracting curtain assembly18. Exemplary method500terminates at step551.

The foregoing discussion along with the Figures discloses and describes various exemplary implementations. These implementations are not meant to limit the scope of coverage, but, instead, to assist in understanding the context of the language used in this specification and in the claims. The Abstract is included to meet requirements of 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b) only. This Abstract is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof. Upon study of this disclosure and the exemplary implementations herein, one of ordinary skill in the art may readily recognize that various changes, modifications and variations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as described herein and as defined by the following claims.