Abstract:
An apparatus, a windscreen, and method for securing a structure against damage from high winds, wherein the windscreen is engagable with a track with slidable, adjustable connectors such as eyebolt connectors or fixed pin connectors that is secured to the eaves or sides of a house, and, with a coarse fabric such as the sheet attached to the track with strap like elements and connectors and anchoring device for securing the windscreen to the ground preventing damage to the structure.

Description:
This application claims priority to provisional patent application Serial No. 60/206,670, filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on May 24, 2000. 
     The present invention relates generally to a protective windscreen which is attachable to buildings, particularly, the wall or soffit above windows and doors of a building. More particularly, it is an apparatus for securing a protective fabric to a roof at the eaves to protect the structure against wind and flying debris, particularly hurricane force winds. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There has long been a need for protecting buildings against winds and flying debris that arise during hurricanes, and other storm conditions. There are several modes of destruction of structures by very high winds, including: (1) a lifting of roof parts, or other parts, usually on the leeward side followed by collapse due to wind pressures; (2) bit by bit destruction due to loss of roof corners, edges, overhangs, or projecting parts on any side; (3) breaking windows; (4) partial loss of wall integrity resulting in water damage internally to a structure, and (5) destruction of the building envelope from glass breakage resulting in wind and water damage. Further, wind pressure on doors jeopardizes safe entrance and exit of fire stations, shelter facilities, hospitals and command centers. 
     Earliest efforts to address this need include securing windows with plywood. To our knowledge, there has not been an adequate way of protecting entrances from wind pressure allowing egress. 
     The present invention is an easy to use windscreen, or hurricane protection device which can be easily put up or taken down which provides the advantages of securing windows and doors, while protecting the integrity of a structure from water, as well as protecting a structure from breakage of windows due to flying debris. 
     Current systems include plywood, corrugated metal, and roller shutters. These systems do not allow applicable protection to large expanses of glass or large doors. As they mount directly to walls, they do not allow egress behind them, which is desirable at entries and exits. 
     Accordingly, the present invention has been developed which does not use individual anchors on the building to secure attachment of screen, but uses a track system which provides a more shared load across more space than the traditional anchored windscreens. Attaching loops on tags and straps on bottom are placed in from edge allowing space for securing and cinching while leaving a skirt of screen to provide full coverage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method for protecting a building, a house, and other structures against damaging winds and flying debris utilizing a track, porous fabric sheet, slideable connectors and anchoring means to the ground. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide adjustable protection for the structure against damage from wind-borne objects that might otherwise be driven against the building by enabling the fabric sheet to be angled from the building at a wide choice of angles. 
     The invention utilizes strap like webbing sewn into the fabric sheet, reinforcing the connectors to the track, and providing connections for anchoring the sheet, such as to the ground, forming a protective “windscreen.” The windscreen sheet is preferably a commercially available knit or woven polyethylene or polypropylene fabric, other similar coarse fabric (“the sheet”), but may be vinyl coated mesh fabric, a strong polymer base fabric, a laminated fabric, or combinations thereof. 
     A further benefit of the invention is that the sheet will stop debris from contacting the vertical surfaces of the structure and yet have ease of installation and take down which enable the windscreen to be installed by only one person. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features of the invention are set out in the following with a specific reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same characters of reference are employed to identify corresponding parts: 
     FIG. 1 is a cross section view of a building with the track installed and the protective sheets attached. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the track of the windscreen. 
     FIG. 3 shows the tensioning means for securing the fabric sheet to tie down loops. 
     FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the fastener secured to the fabric sheet. 
     FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the fastener secured to the fabric sheet with the web strap over the connector. 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the eyebolt used to anchor the invention is concrete. 
     FIG. 7 shows a top view of the backside and front side for the invention. 
     FIG. 8 shows a view of the pin connector of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is a flexible, porous wind protection system. The present invention, when installed, permits light to flow into a building as well as some wind penetration. The present invention is flexible and easy to store and folded, taking minimal space. The actual windscreen needs no maintenance, and the track for carrying the wind screen, made from aluminum, has no need for any maintenance. 
     The present invention provides a barrier which is light, and weighs approximately only 0.5 pounds per square yard. It is resistant to degradation in the presence of ultraviolet light and is resistant to mold and fungus growth. It can be wiped clean with a damp cloth. It can be used to cover doors, glass walls, porches, overhead doors, garage doors, windows, and vents in buildings. Preferably the invention can survive impacts which are at least 5 times the required impact anticipated in a Category  5  hurricane. 
     In the most preferred embodiment, the invention includes a track onto which slidable connectors are installed. A fabric sheet, preferably capable of resisting wind forces of 140 mph, and restricting the flow of air through the sheet to about 3 mph is desired is attached to the slidable connected and anchored to the ground using webbing. 
     In use, the invention should be able to deflect damaging flying debris and dissipate impact energy rather than damaging the structure. 
     The present invention can be installed vertically or at an angle. Entranceways can be left open until the last minute with the invention installed. 
     Referring initially to FIG.  1  and FIG. 2, a structure  2  is shown in FIG. 1 including a roof  4 , and sidewalls  8 . Stretching along the wall  8  is a track  12  into which pluralities of connectors  14  (FIG. 2) are inserted. These connectors  14  may be fixed or slideable in the track and can be fixed pin connectors or eyebolt connectors. The connectors  14  can be permanently installed in the track  12  or can be removably inserted into the track just prior to installing the fabric sheet  16 . The track  12  is preferably made from an aluminum alloy, or similar lightweight metal, which can be secured, attached to the house. In the most preferred embodiment, it is preferred embodiment that the track is removable and attachable to the house eaves, however, permanent installation is also considered within the scope of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the track can be a metal angle with holes  13  to accept fasteners to attach the track to the house. 
     In the most preferred embodiment, the track  12  is of a shape, which is shown in FIG.  2 . FIG. 2 shows a first edge  18 , a second edge  20 , and a back  22 . The back of the track is installed into the building itself, such as with fasteners such as screws shown in FIG. 1 reference  13  or strong latches (not shown). The first edge  18  has a front portion  24  creating an edge of the track and the second edge  20  has a front portion  26 , which is a mirror image of the first portion  24  of first edge  18 . 
     It is considered within the scope of the present invention that the track preferably is extruded aluminum; however, it could be any metal, such as a laminated metal, or a graphite composite, or fiberglass, essentially, any strong material, capable of sustaining Category  5  hurricane winds without snapping or twisting and capable of resisting rusting or degradation due to exposure to the elements, including heat or cold. The track can be a continuous track all around the structure, or it could be a series of track segments. The track can be attached to a transitional edge, such as the edge of a roof on a house, or a non-transitional point, such as a point mid-way up the side of a parking garage. If the track is desired to be on a roof, it could be installed on the soffit or facia of a house. For the purpose of this application, the track is attachable to the edge of a building where “edge” is now defined as a vertical or horizontal structurally sound exterior surface. 
     Although the present invention is contemplated for use with hurricanes, it is considered that this invention is also usable with heavy snows or mudslide issues. It is also possible, that with the application of fire resistant chemicals, the present invention could assist in protecting houses from flying flames during forest fires or the wild fire which occur in California and other dry or drought stricken areas. 
     FIG. 3 shows the anchor means with tensioning means  8 , reinforcing webbing  7  with base loops  4  for engaging anchoring loops  32 . 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 show the connectors  14  are firmly engaged with the track. Connectors  14  in the most preferred embodiment are sliding eyebolts, having a loop shape with a stem, but these connectors could also be of other shapes. The connectors  14  must be very strong and capable of engaging the track  12  on one end and fasteners on the other end. Connector  14  can also be non-sliding pins mounted vertically in the track. Track  12  can then be engaged with the pins to support the fabric sheet  16 . Connectors  14  are preferably metal but could be made from a plastic material as well. 
     Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 a plurality of attaching loops  6  are securely sewn into fabric sheet  16 . Fastener  28  can engage the attaching loops  6  and secure the fabric sheet  16  to connectors  14 . In an alternative embodiment, the attaching loops  6  could be directly secured to connectors  14 , depending on the shape of the slidable connectors, and whether the connectors are additionally lockable. The fastener  28  can be a spring loaded locking fastener, a d-ring fastener, or a simple metal loop. Alternative high strength graphite composites or strong polymer laminate materials could be used as fasteners  28 . 
     A secure covering such as a web strap  30  can be placed over the fastener  28  to provide more control, and decrease the ability for wind to rip the connectors from the attaching loops  6 . In the most preferred embodiment, the secure covering is webbing. 
     Webbing  10  is attached to the fabric sheet  16  to reinforce the sheet. In addition the same webbing can be used with buckles  8  shown in FIG. 3 to form anchoring means, which is adjustable. The webbing  10  is preferably a strong, polymer, which is also capable of resisting UV degradation and fungus build up. 
     Although any strong fabric will serve as fabric  16 , in the preferred embodiment of the invention, fabric  16  will be made of a coarsely knit or woven material. Desirable qualities for such fabric include a uniform open weave or knit that will allow the passage of air through the fabric, and construction from material that is flexible, ultraviolet and temperature resistant, strong, and of low cost. Commercially available knit or woven polyethylene or polypropylene fabric possesses all these desirable qualities and comes in various degrees of thickness and weaves and percentages of opaque threads woven into the fabric, and in percentages of porosity of the fabric. The most preferred embodiment of the present invention uses a cloth with a tight weave and low porosity to light. Vinyl coating mesh, polyester or other polymer base fabric could also be used within the scope of the present invention. 
     Shown in FIG. 6 in this embodiment of the invention tensioning means  8  attach to tie down loops  32  which can be anchored to eyebolts  34 . The anchor is embedded in the concrete slab  31 . In an alternative anchoring system, the anchoring means can attach to ground with tie down loops  32  secured to the ground anchors through which tensioning means  8  and loops can pass. 
     The spacing of the anchor assemblies is preferably one per twenty-four (24) square feet of structure, with the spacing of the tie-down loops approximately two feet apart. Webbing strap assemblies are placed on two-foot centers along length of sheet for securing sheet to anchors  34 . The tensile strength of the webbing is preferably a minimum of 3000 pounds. 
     FIG. 7 shows a top view of the invention with fabric secured to the roof track. 
     FIG. 8 shows the track  12  with the pin  50  extending through track  12  and fastener  52  engaging the pin  50 . 
     On certain larger structures the weight of the windscreen fabric is too great to allow easy installation. In one embodiment of the invention, the material can then be permanently attached to the building and like a giant curtain be slidable into a compartment located on the side of the building for storage. Known curtain storage assemblies, such as for theaters could be used and are incorporated herein by reference.