Abstract:
A rapidly-deployable fire shelter is described herein. Specifically, the fire shelter is equipped with one or more actuators that enable the fire shelter to be rapidly deployed thereby providing a quick and effective mechanism for protecting items or people from fire, smoke, and the other fire-related hazards. The fire shelter may include a protective barrier that is extended upon activation of the one or more actuators.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    The present disclosure is generally directed toward fire shelters and barriers and specifically directed toward rapidly-deployable fire shelters and barriers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Depending upon the location of the wildfire, a wildfire can be referred to by other names as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wildland fire. Wildfires, like other fires, have the potential for causing a great amount of damage to both property and life. A wildfire differs from other fires by its extensive size, the speed at which it can spread out from its original source, its potential to change direction unexpectedly, and its ability to jump gaps such as roads, rivers and fire breaks. Wildfires are characterized in terms of the cause of ignition, their physical properties such as speed of propagation, the combustible material present, and the effect of weather on the fire. Needless to say, wildfires present many challenges that are not presented by structure fires and other types of fires. 
         [0003]    While some wildfires burn in remote forested regions, they can cause extensive destruction of homes and other property located in the wildland-urban interface: a zone of transition between developed areas and undeveloped wilderness. Properties in these zones of transition are often viewed by insurance companies as uninsurable properties against fire damage. 
         [0004]    In the United States, the National Forest Service is primarily responsible for deploying firefighters throughout the nation to combat wildfires. These firefighters often work several weeks straight with minimal time off, especially during the summer months when wildfires are most prevalent. Moreover, the dangers of wildfires encountered by firefighters are many. As noted above, wildfires are often fast moving and susceptible to sudden changes in direction. Unfortunately, tools currently available to firefighting personnel as well as residents in zones of transition are rudimentary at best. 
         [0005]    Many currently available personal fire shelter systems use a fire retardant material on the interior and exterior of the fire shelter structure. While the fire retardant material is useful at combating effects of heat and flame, the fire retardant material increases the weight of the shelter system and is unnecessary on the inside of the shelter structure. Prior art fire shelter systems also use a floor, which does not allow the cooling effect of cleared ground. Further still, prior art designs of fire shelter systems have an entrance on top of the shelter, creating an air inlet for combustible air to enter the shelter. Indeed, current designs in personal fire shelters leave much to be desired. 
         [0006]    Similarly, current designs for residential, vehicular, and structural fire shelters are cumbersome and difficult to deploy. As an example, some currently-available residential fire shelters require hours to deploy because they are designed to completely cover the residential structure. As another example, vehicular fire shelters require manual deployment (e.g., unfolding and securing to the vehicle) and are therefore not usually capable of rapid deployment, especially when personnel is not right next to the vehicle. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    It is, therefore, one aspect of the present disclosure to provide a fire shelter that is capable of rapid deployment. It is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a rapidly-deployable fire shelter for protecting persons as well as structures, vehicles, and the like. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, a fire shelter is disclosed that includes a protective barrier that is initially in a non-deployed state (e.g., within a case, container, housing, etc.). The fire shelter may be equipped with one or more actuators that cause the protective barrier to transition into a deployed state within a matter of seconds. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, an actuator for the fire shelter may comprise a source of compressed gas. The compressed gas may be released from the actuator either manually, remotely, or automatically. Once the compressed gas is released, the compressed gas may be expelled into a protective barrier of the fire shelter thereby establishing a structure for the fire shelter. Depending upon the nature of the structure, the fire shelter can be used to protect people, vehicles, structures, and the like. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, a rapidly-deployable fire shelter is disclosed that is particularly well suited for personal use. The fire shelter may utilize the compressed gas and a tube frame to support and protect a firefighter who is inside the fire shelter. The ease and speed of deployment is greatly enhanced as compared to previously-available fire shelters. The tube frame may establish a protective cavity for the firefighter and when it is fully deployed, the cavity creates a safe environment for the firefighter. In some embodiments, with intense heat, the gas within the tube frame may expand. It may, therefore, be desirable to incorporate one or more release valves into the tube frame to automatically relieve the excessive pressure. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments, a rapidly-deployable fire shelter is disclosed that is particularly well suited for use with vehicles and residential structures. Specifically, the fire shelter comprises a curtain-type barrier that is deployable under the force of expanding gas. The curtain-type barrier may comprise a plurality of panels connected to one another. The barrier may comprise a single volume that is filled with the expanding gas from the actuator or it may optionally comprise a tube frame. 
         [0012]    The curtain-type barrier may be maintained in a housing while it is in a non-deployed state. The housing may be configured to attach above a window of a vehicle or above a window of a structure (e.g., the interior or exterior of the vehicle or house). In some embodiments, the housing is attached to or integrated with interior curtains or window treatments that are contained on the interior of a window frame. 
         [0013]    The curtain-type barrier may also be provided with one or more securement mechanisms that enable the curtain-type barrier to be removable secured to the bottom of the window easily and efficiently. In some embodiments, the securement mechanisms may also enable the curtain-type barrier to replace an installed base of manually-deployable fire curtains. Specifically, a vehicle that was initially built with manually-deployable fire curtains that can be unfolded and temporarily secured around a vehicle window can be retrofitted with a fire shelter built in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The securement mechanism also enables the curtain-type barrier to be used via manual deployment if the actuator becomes broken or is otherwise rendered inoperable. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments a fire shelter is provided that generally comprises:
       an inflatable protection barrier that is constructed with at least one of a fire-resistant and fire-retardant material, the inflatable protection barrier comprising at least one internal volume; and   an actuator in fluidic communication with the at least one internal volume of the inflatable protection barrier, the actuator configured to discharge at least one of a gas and fluid into the at least one internal volume of the inflatable protection barrier.       
 
         [0017]    The present invention will be further understood from the drawings and the following detailed description. Although this description sets forth specific details, it is understood that certain embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. It is also understood that in some instances, well-known circuits, components and techniques have not been shown in detail in order to avoid obscuring the understanding of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The present disclosure is described in conjunction with the appended figures: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a top isometric view of a first embodiment of a deployed fire shelter in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a bottom isometric view of the fire shelter depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional isometric view of the fire shelter depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4A  is an end view of the fire shelter depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4B  is a side view of the fire shelter depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a container for a fire shelter in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the container depicted in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a top isometric view of a second embodiment of a deployed fire shelter in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a front view of the fire shelter depicted in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is a top isometric view of the fire shelter depicted in  FIG. 7  prior to deployment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 10A  is a top view of the fire shelter depicted in  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 10B  is a bottom view of the fire shelter depicted in  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view across line  11 - 11 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 12  is an end view of the fire shelter depicted in  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 13  is a block diagram depicting a first configuration of a fire shelter and actuator in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0034]      FIG. 14  is a block diagram depicting a second configuration of a fire shelter and actuator in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0035]      FIG. 15  is a block diagram depicting a third configuration of a fire shelter and actuator in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 16  is a flow diagram depicting a fire shelter deployment method in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0037]    The ensuing description provides embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the claims. Rather, the ensuing description will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing the described embodiments. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 
         [0038]    Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-6  a first embodiment of a fire shelter  100  will be described in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. The fire shelter  100 , as seen in  FIGS. 1-4  may be deployed so as to create a cavity for protecting a person or thing with a shell  104 . In particular, the shell  104  and other components of the fire shelter  100  may comprise any type of material or collection of materials known to resist burning, withstand heat, and otherwise create a protective barrier against heat, flame, and other fire-related dangers. Either fire-retardant materials or fire-resistant materials may be used in the construction of the shell  104  and other components of the fire shelter  100 . Fire-retardant materials are designed to burn slowly, in contrast to fire-resistant materials, which are designed not to burn at all. In other embodiments, the materials of the fire shelter  100  may be constructed of traditional materials (e.g., nylon, polyesters, elastane, cotton, cotton-polyester blends, rubber, combinations thereof, or any other material known to be used for clothing or for industrial applications) and then treated with fire-resistant or fire-retardant compounds. 
         [0039]    More specifically, the shell  104  and other components of the fire shelter  100  may be made of a fire-retardant and/or fire-resistant material or be treated with a fire-retardant and/or fire-retardant material. Examples of suitable materials that may be used for the shell  104  and other components of the fire shelter  100  include, without limitation, Twaron, TARAMID®, NOMEX®, ARSELON®, coated nylon, carbon foam, M5 fiber, KEVLAR®, TARACOMFORT®, Proban fr cotton, PYROMEX®, Pyrovatex fr cotton, Dale Antiflame, Indura fr cotton, Technora, Teijinconex, Lenzing FR (fire retardant Rayon), Carbon X, Kanox, Mazic, Modacrylic, Kermel, polybenzimidazole fiber, CELAZOLE® PBI polymer, polyphosphazenes (especially those that bear aryloxy side groups), compounds that contain both phosphorus and nitrogen, and combinations thereof. Additional examples of fire-resistant and fire-retardant materials are described in further detail in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2007/0194289 to Anglin et al., 2002/0004127 to Bowers et al., 2006/0105658 to Patz et al., as well as U.S. Pat. No. 7,875,564 to Hsu et al., each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
         [0040]    Referring now to the structure of the fire shelter  100 , the shelter  100  may include a number of components that enable the shell  104  to establish a protected area  216  or cavity adjacent to an inner surface of the shell  104 . The opposing outer surface of the shell  104  may be configured to withstand flame, heat, and other fire-related dangers and may be specifically configured to protect any person or item within the protected area  216  from such fire-related dangers. 
         [0041]    In some embodiments, the fully-deployed shell  104  may have a dome-like shape (e.g., half-cylindrical main portion with rounded ends) having dimensions sufficient to protect an average sized human. It should be appreciated, however, that the shape and size of the deployed shell  104  may vary according to intended uses and any such variations are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0042]    In some embodiments, the rapid deployment of the fire shelter  100  may be facilitated by one or more deployment mechanisms  108  and/or one or more deployment handles  112 . The deployment mechanism  108  may be co-located with the deployment handle  112  or the two components may be at different locations on the shell  104 . 
         [0043]    In some embodiments, the deployment mechanism  108  comprises a source of compressed fluid or gas (e.g., compressed CO2, N2O, Helium, or the like). The deployment mechanism(s)  108  may be activated (e.g., caused to release the compressed fluid or gas) into the shell  104 , thereby causing the shell  104  to expand and deploy. 
         [0044]    In some embodiments, it may be desirable to provide multiple deployment mechanisms  108  on the fire shelter  100 . Multiple deployment mechanisms  108  may enable a quicker deployment of the fire shelter  100  as well as redundancy for improved safety. Specifically, if one or more of the deployment mechanisms  108  fail to release their compressed fluid or gas (or fails for some other reason), then the other deployment mechanisms  108  are enabled to act as backups for the faulty deployment mechanisms. 
         [0045]    The number of deployment mechanisms  108  employed may depend upon the structure of the shell  104 . Specifically, if the shell  104  requires a relatively larger amount of gas or fluid to fully deploy, then a larger number of deployment mechanisms  108  (or larger capacity deployment mechanisms  108 ) may be utilized. On the other hand, if the shell requires a relatively smaller amount of gas or fluid to fully deploy, then a smaller number of deployment mechanisms  108  (or smaller capacity deployment mechanisms  108 ) may be utilized. The depicted embodiment shows the fire shelter  100  having two deployment mechanisms  108 , each corresponding to a standard sized CO2 cartridge (e.g., 12 g or 16 g CO2 cartridge). It should be appreciated that a greater or lesser number of deployment mechanisms  108  (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, or more) may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Similarly, larger or smaller deployment mechanisms  108  (e.g., 1 g, 2 g, 6 g, 8 g, 10 g, 14 g, 20 g, and other integer and non-integer sizes) may be employed depending upon the desired functionality of the fire shelter  100  and the number of deployment mechanisms  108  desired. It should also be appreciated that the number and size of deployment mechanisms  108  may vary depending upon the desired weight of the fire shelter  100 . It may be desirable to utilize a minimal number of deployment mechanisms  108 , thereby decreasing the weight of the fire shelter  100  since the fire shelter  100  will likely be carried by firefighters for extended periods of time. 
         [0046]    As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , each deployment mechanism  108  is co-located with a deployment handle  112  at a shell perimeter  204 . The shell perimeter  204  may define the outer boundary of the shell  104  and corresponds to the surface of the shell  104  that is placed on the ground to protect a person. Another reason it may be desirable to construct the shell  104  of flexible material is that such a construction enables the shell perimeter  204  to conform to a non-flat surface, thereby minimizing exposure of the protected area  216  to the outer environment. The flexible shell perimeter  204  is also useful to minimize air currents that flow into the protected area  216  when the shell  104  is deployed and the shell perimeter  204  is placed on the ground. By reducing air currents flowing into the protected area  216 , the risk of flames entering the protected area  216  underneath the shell perimeter  204  is also reduced. 
         [0047]    The shell perimeter  204  may also have a tongue  212  that is connected thereto which extends inward toward the protected area  216 . The tongue  212  may provide several advantages. Firstly, the tongue  212  may provide a surface for a firefighter in the protected area  216  to hold the shell perimeter  204  onto the ground. Secondly, the tongue  212  may create a longer path between the outer surface of the shell  104  and the protected area  216 , thereby making it more difficult for flames and heat to enter the protected area  216  when the shell perimeter  204  is placed on the ground. 
         [0048]    The material used to construct the shell perimeter  204  and/or tongue  212  may be the same or different from the material used to construct the shell  104 . In some embodiments, it may be desirable to use a thicker and more durable material for the tongue  212  as compared to the shell  104 , since the tongue  212  will be the component that is in contact with the firefighter&#39;s hands/feet when in use. 
         [0049]    With reference now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , one example construction of the shell  104  and shell perimeter  204  will be described in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. Although this construction corresponds to one suitable manner for constructing the shell  104  and shell perimeter  204 , those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other constructions can be employed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. As an example, rather than having a tubular construction as is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the shell  104  may comprise a single void between an outer and inner layer and the entirety of the void may be filled with a gas and/or liquid to deploy the fire shelter  100 . 
         [0050]    In some embodiments, the shell  104  may comprise a plurality of inflatable cross members  208  that extend from one point on the shell perimeter  204  across the top of the shell  104  to another point on the shell perimeter  204 . The shell perimeter  204  may comprise an inflatable perimeter member  316  that spans the entirety of the shell perimeter  204 . Each inflatable cross member  208  may intersect the inflatable perimeter member  316  at two cross member intersections  324 . 
         [0051]    The shell  104  may also comprise a main inflatable cross member  204  that extends from the first end  116  of the shell  104  to the second end  120  of the shell  104 . The main inflatable cross member  204  may bisect each of the other inflatable cross members  208 . Each point of bisection may correspond to a cross member intersection  312  that is located at the uppermost point of the shell  104 . The main inflatable cross member  204  may also intersect the inflatable perimeter member  316  at perimeter intersections  320 . In some embodiments, the main inflatable cross member  304  bisects each inflatable cross member  208  and the inflatable perimeter member  316  at an orthogonal angle. 
         [0052]    As can be appreciated, the main inflatable cross member  204  does not necessarily have to span the longest length of the shell  104 , although it may be desirable to provide such a configuration so as to maximize the structural integrity of the shell  104  when the inflatable members  304 ,  308 ,  324  are inflated. Furthermore, more than one main inflatable cross member  304  may be employed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Similarly, a greater or lesser number of inflatable cross members  308  (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, six, or more) may be employed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0053]    In some embodiments, each of the inflatable members  304 ,  308 ,  324  are connected to one another, thereby creating a single common volume (albeit distributed in a tubular fashion) that can be filled with expanding gases from the deployment mechanism(s)  108 . In some embodiments, however, it may be desirable to create divisions or sections in the inflatable frame and each section may have its own dedicated deployment mechanism  108  such that if one section (e.g., the middle section) does not inflate or has otherwise become compromised due to a tear, the other sections (e.g., the end sections) may still inflate and deploy. Such a deployed fire shelter  100 , while not optimal, may still provide a sufficient amount protection to a firefighter within the protected area  216 . 
         [0054]    In some embodiments, the deployment mechanisms  108  may further be equipped with pressure release valves  604  (see  FIG. 6 ) that enable expanding gases to escape from the inflatable members  304 ,  308 ,  324  when pressures within the inflatable members  304 ,  308 ,  324  exceed a predetermined pressure. Specifically, the inflatable members  304 ,  308 ,  324  will have gases therein while the fire shelter  100  is deployed and exposed to flame and heat. This exposure may cause the gases within the inflatable members  304 ,  308 ,  324  to further expand, thereby increasing the pressure within the inflatable members  304 ,  308 ,  324 . The pressure release valves  604  may provide the means for maintaining an acceptable pressure within the inflatable members  304 ,  308 ,  324  to ensure that the fire shelter does not burst due to the expanding gases. 
         [0055]    In some embodiments, the shell  104  is longer in one dimension (e.g., a dimension spanning from a first end  116  of the shell  104  to a second end  120  of the shell  104 ) than another dimension. Specifically, as can be seen in  FIG. 4B , the deployed shell  104  may have a length L from the first end  116  to the second end  120 . The length L may be specifically designed to be at least as long as an average size male or female. In some embodiments, the length L of the shell  104  may be anywhere between 5 feet and 8 feet and more specifically may be between 6 feet and 7 feet. Even more specifically, the length L of the shell  104  may be about 7 feet. 
         [0056]    Similar to the length L, and as can be seen in  FIG. 4A , the deployed shell  104  may have a height H and width W sufficient to protect an average size male or female. In some embodiments, the height H of the shell  104  may be anywhere between 1 foot to 4 feet and more specifically may be between 2 feet and 3 feet. Even more specifically, the height H of the shell  104  may be about 2.5 feet. The width W of the shell  104  may be anywhere between 2 feet and 5 feet and more specifically may be between 3 feet and 4 feet. Even more specifically, the width W of the shell  104  may be about 3.5 feet. 
         [0057]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the fire shelter  100 , when not deployed, may be contained within a carrying case  504  or similar package. The combination of the fire shelter  100  and case  504  may be referred to as a fire shelter system  500 . Although the case  504  is depicted as a backpack or similar type of container, it should be appreciated that any suitable type of container may be used as a case for the fire shelter  100 . It is not necessary that the case  504  be configured for carrying by a firefighter, although such a configuration may be particularly useful in certain situations. Rather, it may also be possible to provide a case  504  that is configured to be attached to a vehicle, carried by some non-human animal (e.g., horse, dog, etc.). 
         [0058]    In some embodiments, the case  504  comprises a main body and a lid  508 . The lid  508  may open on a hinge or at a single seam such that the deployment handles  112  are exposed at the top of the case  504 . A user of the fire shelter  100  may grasp the deployment handles  112  and pull the fire shelter  100  out of the case  504 . As the deployment handles  112  are pulled out of the case, the handles  112  may also be pulled apart, thereby causing the deployment mechanisms  108  to expel the gas or fluid contained therein into the shell  104 . Specifically, the deployment mechanisms  108  may be fluidically connected to the interior volume of the inflatable members  304 ,  308 ,  324  via one or more fittings  608 . The fittings  608  may provide a connection between the inflatable members and a fluid line that extends from the deployment mechanism  108 . Any type of known trigger mechanism (e.g., trigger line, switch, pressure applicator that pierces the deployment mechanism  108 , etc.) may be used to trigger the activation of the deployment mechanism(s)  108 . 
         [0059]    With reference now to  FIGS. 7-12 , a second embodiment of a fire shelter  700  will be described in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. The fire shelter  700  may comprise a curtain  704  that is attached to a housing  708 . In some embodiments, the fire shelter  700  may be configured for deployment over a window or opening of a vehicle (e.g., car, truck, SUV, van, jeep, bus, etc.), house, building, or similar structure. As can be appreciated, the fire shelter  700  may have components that are similar or identical to fire shelter  100 , except that fire shelter  700  is configured to deploy a curtain  704  rather than a shell  104 . The materials discussed in connection with fire shelter  100  may also be employed to construct the fire shelter  700  or components thereof. 
         [0060]    It is considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure to have fire shelter  700  employ one or more components described in connection with fire shelter  100  and vice versa. For ease of understanding, however, a single embodiment of fire shelter  700  will be described. 
         [0061]    In some embodiments, the fire shelter  700  comprises one or more deployment mechanisms  712  that are attached to the housing  708  via one or more fasteners  716 . The deployment mechanism  712  may be similar or identical to deployment mechanism  108 . The fasteners  716  may be configured to secure the deployment mechanism  712  to one or more surfaces of the housing  708 . It should be appreciated that any type of known mechanical fastener (e.g., c-clamp, screw, bolt, nail, tack, string, wire, friction fitting, etc.), adhesive, epoxy, or combinations thereof can be used as the fastener  716 . 
         [0062]    The deployment mechanism  712  may be fluidically connected to the void of the curtain  704  via a fitting  720 . In some embodiments, the fitting  720  is similar or identical to the fitting  608 . Although not depicted, the deployment mechanism  712  may also comprise a release valve to control the amount of pressure that exists within the curtain  704 . Also similar to the fire shelter  100 , the deployment mechanism  712  may be activated mechanically by a deployment handle  724  that is connected to the fitting  720  via a deployment line  728 . As will be discussed in further detail below, other mechanical, electro-mechanical, and electrical activation mechanisms can be used to activate the deployment mechanism  712  or  108 . 
         [0063]    Referring specifically now to  FIG. 8 , additional details of the curtain  704  in a deployed state will be described in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the curtain  704  may either have a tubular construction similar to the shell  104  or it may have a sheet-like construction where a large single void exists between a front and back layer of the curtain. As the tubular construction has already been discussed in connection with the shell  104 , a sheet-like construction will be described in connection with the curtain  704 , although it should be appreciated that a tubular construction is also acceptable for the curtain  704 . 
         [0064]    One advantage that can be exploited by the curtain  704  that may not be available to the shell  104 , is that the curtain  704  can be deployed with the assistance of gravitational forces whereas the shell  104  may need to be deployed upward and against gravitational forces. With this in mind, it may be desirable to utilize a sheet-like construction for the curtain  704  where more material is used and the weight of that material can be leveraged to assist the deployment of the curtain  704  with expanding gases or liquids being provided from the deployment mechanism  712 . 
         [0065]    In some embodiments, the curtain  704  comprises a top end  804  and a bottom end  808  that are connected to one another via two sides  812 . The lengths of the sides  812  may be the same, although such a configuration is not required. Of course, the dimensions of the curtain  704  may be specifically tailored to any opening that is being protected. Accordingly, the curtain  704  may comprise more than two sides  812 , multiple bottom ends  808 , and may be in any shape. 
         [0066]    The curtain  704  may comprise a main interior surface and opposing main exterior surface that are connected to one another via one or more end panels  820   a ,  820   b . Each main surface may comprise one or more curtain panels (e.g.,  816   a - d ). The curtain panels on one main surface may be separated from the curtain panels on the opposing main surface such that gas or liquid expelled from the deployment mechanism  712  fills the void between the curtain panels. It should be appreciated that while the curtain  704  is depicted as having four curtain panels  816   a ,  816   b ,  816   c ,  816   d , a greater or lesser number of panels may be provided on each main surface of the curtain  704  without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0067]    A seam  824  or similar type of material joint may be established between each curtain panel. Furthermore, a seam  824  may connect a curtain panel with an end panel  820   a ,  820   b . Meanwhile, a seam  824  may connect the bottom of each curtain panel to a bottom panel  828  that is provided at the bottom end  808  of the curtain  704 . The bottom panel  828  may also comprise one or more securement mechanisms  832  that enable the bottom panel  828  to be secured to an appropriate counterpart that is situated on the protected vehicle, structure, house, etc. The nature of the securement mechanism  832  may depend upon the type of counterpart that is being connected to. In particular, the securement mechanism  832  may comprise one half of a hook and loop material whereas the counterpart on the protected item may comprise the other half of the hook and loop material. Alternatively, or in addition, the securement mechanism  832  may comprise a magnetized material that enables the bottom panel  828  to be releasably attached to a metal surface. Alternatively, or in addition, the securement mechanism  832  may comprise a snap, button, adhesive, or the like to enable securement of the bottom panel  828  to a bottom portion of a window or the like. 
         [0068]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 9-12 , the curtain  704  may be contained within the housing  708  when the curtain  704  is not deployed. Activation of the deployment mechanism  712  may cause downward forces to be exerted on the curtain  704  such that the curtain  704  extends out of the housing  708 . 
         [0069]    The housing  708  may be dimensioned to fit over or within a window, opening, or other type of exposed point in a vehicle, building, house, etc. As some examples, the housing  708  may comprise two ends  904  that are connected by two side surfaces  908  and a top surface  912 . The bottom of the housing  708  may comprise a housing cavity  1004  that receives the curtain  704  and stores the curtain  704  in a compressed or folded state. 
         [0070]    Although not depicted, the housing  708  may be provided with one or more mounting brackets that facilitate the mounting of the housing  708  over or within a predetermined opening of a vehicle, structure, or house. Any type of known mounting bracket or similar mounting mechanism (e.g., plate and screw, hooks, friction fittings, etc.) used to mount curtains, blinds, shutters, or the like over or within a window frame may be employed to mount the housing  708  into the desired position without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0071]      FIG. 12  also depicts the housing  708  with one or more retainers  1204  that are located at the bottom end of the housing  708 . The retainers  1204  may be connected to or part of the sides  908  or ends  904 . One, two, three, four, or more retainers  1204  may be used to retain the curtain  704  within the housing cavity  1004 . The retainers  1204  may comprise any type of material (e.g., metal, wood, polymer, ceramic, composite, etc.) that is either rigidly attached or hingedly attached to the bottom of housing  708 . The retainers  1204  may be configured to retain the weight of the curtain  704  but give way (e.g., open, pivot, break, etc.) when a gas or liquid is introduced into the void of the curtain  704  by the deployment mechanism  712 . The additional force of the gas or fluid expanding the curtain  704  may cause the curtain  704  to force itself past the retainers  1204  and deploy away from the housing  708 . 
         [0072]    With reference now to  FIGS. 13-15 , variations of the deployment mechanisms  108 ,  712  and/or triggers therefore will be described in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. In particular, various types of actuators will be described that can be similar or identical to the deployment mechanisms  108 ,  712  discussed hereinabove. An actuator may refer to any component or collection of components that cause the fire shelter  100 ,  700  to transition from an undeployed state to a deployed state (e.g., by forcing gas or fluid into an expandable void in a shell  104  or curtain  704 ). The actuator may comprise purely mechanical components or a combination of mechanical and electrical components. A simple actuator  1312  is depicted in  FIG. 13  that is directly connected to the fire shelter  1308 . This particular example of an actuator  1312  may correspond to a mechanically-activated actuator that causes the fire shelter  1308  to deploy and protect a protected item  1304 . As discussed above, the protected item(s)  1304  may be completely enclosed by the fire shelter  1308  or it may only be partially covered by the fire shelter  1308 . The actuator  1312  may correspond to a deployment mechanism  108 ,  712  that is activated by a handle, button, key, lever, or any other physical force applied in proximity to the actuator  1312 . 
         [0073]      FIG. 14  shows an example of a local actuator  1404  that is in communication with a remote control  1412  via a communication network  1408 . It should be appreciated that the communication network  1408  is optional and the remote control  1412  may be configured to communicate wirelessly (e.g., via Bluetooth, RF signals, infrared signals, visible light, sound waves, etc.) with the local actuator  1404 . If the communication network  1408  is not employed, then there may be a requirement that the remote control  1412  be within a predetermined distance (e.g., Bluetooth read range, RF read range, line-of-sight, etc.) of the local actuator  1404  to activate the local actuator  1404 . The communication network  1408 , on the other hand, enables the remote control  1412  to communicate with the local actuator  1404  at extended distances. 
         [0074]    The communication network  1408  may comprise any type of known communication medium or collection of communication media and may use any type of protocols to transport messages between endpoints. The communication network  1408  may include wired and/or wireless communication technologies. The Internet is an example of the communication network  1408  that constitutes an Internet Protocol (IP) network consisting of many computers, computing networks, and other communication devices located all over the world, which are connected through many telephone systems and other means. Other examples of the communication network  1408  include, without limitation, a standard Plain Old Telephone System (POTS), an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) network, a cellular network, a satellite network, and any other type of packet-switched or circuit-switched network known in the art. In addition, it can be appreciated that the communication network  1408  need not be limited to any one network type, and instead may be comprised of a number of different networks and/or network types. 
         [0075]    When a communication network  1408  is employed, the local actuator  1404  and remote control  1412  may both comprise one or more network interfaces (e.g., Network Interface Cards, wireless antennas, drivers, network ports (e.g., Ethernet, USB, etc.), and the like). Alternatively, the local actuator  1404  and/or remote control  1412  may be in communication with a separate network adaptor. 
         [0076]    In some embodiments, the remote control  1412  may be used to transmit one or more signals or messages to the local actuator  1404  (either directly or via the communication network  1408 ). The local actuator  1404  or a component in communication therewith may comprise a processor that is capable of processing and interpreting the signal/message received from the remote control  1412 . Upon receiving and processing the appropriate signal or message, the local actuator  1404  may execute one or more actions that are consistent with the signal or message. Examples of such actions include activating the local actuator  1404 , thereby causing the fire shelter to deploy, sounding an alarm that indicates the fire shelter will be deployed or has been deployed, lighting an indicator that indicates the fire shelter will be deployed or has been deployed, and so on. 
         [0077]      FIG. 15  shows another example of an actuator  1504  that is in communication with a sensor  1508 . Much like the remote control  1412  and local actuator  1404 , the sensor  1508  and actuator  1504  may be in direct electrical communication (e.g., via wires, conductive traces, etc.), direct wireless communication, or indirect communication via a communication network. In some embodiments, the sensor  1508  may be secured or affixed to the fire shelter in a position that is substantially near the actuator  1504 . 
         [0078]    If the sensor  1508  detects one or more predetermined environmental conditions (e.g., temperatures in excess of a predetermined temperature, infrared activity in excess of a predetermined activity threshold, etc.) that are likely to correspond to flames or heat, the sensor  1508  may automatically activate the actuator  1504 . Alternatively, the sensor  1508  and actuator  1504  may be part of a Programmable Logic Circuit (PLC) that controls when the actuator  1504  is activated and the fire shelter is deployed based on inputs received from the sensor  1508 . 
         [0079]    As discussed above, the sensor  1508  may employ any fire or heat-sensing technology. Examples of suitable sensors  1508  include, without limitation, an ultraviolet flame detector, a visible light flame detector (e.g., camera and image-processing module), an infrared sensor, a smoke detector, a thermostat/thermometer, or combinations thereof. 
         [0080]    With reference now to  FIG. 16 , a method of deploying a fire shelter with any one or more of the actuators/deployment mechanisms discussed hereinabove will be described in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The method is initiated when fire or indications of fire are detected (step  1604 ). This step may occur automatically (e.g., with sensor  1508 ) or with human assistance. 
         [0081]    Upon detecting fire or indications of fire, the method continues by triggering the actuator (step  1608 ). Depending upon the type of actuator employed and other considerations, the manner in which the actuator is deployed can vary. For example, the actuator may be triggered manually with a user pulling a lever, pushing a button, pulling a handle, etc. Alternatively, or in addition, a user may trigger the actuator remotely. Alternatively, or in addition, a combination of the embodiments described in  FIGS. 14 and 15  may be employed and a user may be separated from the fire shelter but notified of a detected fire condition near the fire shelter. Upon receiving such a notification, the user may be asked if they want to deploy the fire shelter. A positive response to such a query may result in the remote control  1412  transmitting a signal or message to the local actuator  1404 , thereby causing the local actuator  1404  to activate and deploy the fire shelter. A negative response to such a query may result in no transmission of instructions from the remote control  1412 . The user may also preprogram rules to handle the situation where they don&#39;t respond within a predetermined amount of time of receiving such a notification. Specifically, a user can administer rules that cause the local actuator  1404  to become activated or not after a predetermined amount of time has passed since detecting fire or indications of fire. 
         [0082]    Once the actuator has been triggered (e.g., activated), the method continues with the actuator causing the fire shelter to become deployed (step  1612 ). Deployment of the fire shelter can be accomplished by projecting a gas or liquid into the shell or curtain of the fire shelter, thereby causing the shape of the shell or curtain to change until it is fully deployed. 
         [0083]    An addition step that may be performed either before or after the deployment of the fire shelter is a reporting or indicating step (step  1616 ). Specifically, it may be possible to report that a fire shelter has been deployed for safety and inventory purposes. It may also be possible to indicate that a fire shelter is about to be deployed, thereby giving persons within proximity of the fire shelter the ability to stand clear of the fire shelter. 
         [0084]    In the foregoing description, for the purposes of illustration, methods were described in a particular order. It should be appreciated that in alternate embodiments, the methods and steps thereof may be performed in a different order than that described. It should also be appreciated that the methods described above may be performed by hardware components or may be embodied in sequences of machine-executable instructions, which may be used to cause a machine, such as a general-purpose or special-purpose processor or logic circuits programmed with the instructions to perform the methods. These machine-executable instructions may be stored on one or more machine readable mediums, such as CD-ROMs or other type of optical disks, floppy diskettes, ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, SIMs, SAMs, magnetic or optical cards, flash memory, or other types of machine-readable mediums suitable for storing electronic instructions. Alternatively, the methods may be performed by a combination of hardware and software. 
         [0085]    While illustrative embodiments of the disclosure have been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed, and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations, except as limited by the prior art.