Patent Publication Number: US-2009229767-A1

Title: Storm curtain side retention system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to a curtain assembly which protects a building from damage due to the breach of an opening in the building caused by high winds and wind-borne debris oftentimes present during storm conditions. More specifically, this invention relates to a system for maintaining the side edges of a curtain in the side rails of the assembly. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In geographic areas which are prone to having high wind events, such as hurricanes and the like, the need exists for the protection of openings, such as windows and doors, in buildings. Otherwise, if the high winds or wind-borne debris breaches the integrity of the structure by destroying a window or door, severe damage to the structure can be expected. 
     One type of simple protection device involves the use of a sheet of plywood which can be attached to the structure so as to cover the openings thereof. However, this “boarding up” procedure is not only time consuming, when time is usually of the essence, but also can disfigure the exterior of the structure upon frequent installation and removal. Moreover, the plywood solution creates dark environments, and the weight, size, and limited shapes of the sheets often make deployment difficult, especially in windy conditions. In addition, plywood deteriorates with time, and storing and maintaining an inventory of plywood sheets can be problematic. 
     As a result, a number of temporarily installable or permanently installed devices have been developed to be used as alternatives to plywood. For example, metallic shutters consisting of a plurality of hinged slats can be provided adjacent to a window and can be rolled up by a hand crank or a motor when not in use. However, these devices are not only costly, but also the lateral edges thereof do not provide a proper seal. 
     More recently, fabric-based systems have been developed which can be less costly than the metallic shutters or other devices, and which can provide a seal for the openings in the structure. In their simplest form, these systems include a sheet of fabric which is strong enough to withstand high winds and the forces of wind-borne debris without rupturing. These fabric sheets may be attached across the opening on at least two edges, thus providing protection for the structure against the wind even if the glass of a window, for example, has been broken. 
     In most of these systems, the fabric curtain is stored on a roller carried in a header, and when it is desired to use the curtain to cover the opening, it is payed out from the roller and locked in place at the sill area or at the bottom of the opening. In addition to being required to be locked in place at the bottom, the manner in which the edges of the fabric are maintained in the side rails which extend vertically between the header and the sill is important to the operation of the system. In some elaborate systems, the force of wind or debris impacting the curtain will lock or otherwise seal the fabric edges in the side rails. However, in other systems it is possible that such forces will merely displace the fabric out of the side rails, and the need, therefore, exists for a system which will retain the position of the edge of the fabric in the side rails while allowing vertical movement. Moreover, it would be desirable to eliminate the need for locking the fabric at the bottom sill area and relying only on the connection to the side rails to maintain the curtain in place. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a storm curtain which can be used to cover an opening in a structure thereby protecting the structure. 
     It is an object of another aspect of the present invention to provide an assembly, as above, with a system which retains the side edges of the curtain in the side rails of the assembly. 
     It is an object of another aspect of the present invention to provide an assembly, as above, which may eliminate the need to lock the fabric in the sill area at the bottom of the opening. 
     These and other objects of the present invention, as well as the advantages thereof over existing prior art forms, which will become apparent from the description to follow, are accomplished by the improvements hereinafter described and claimed. 
     In general, a curtain assembly to cover an opening in a structure made in accordance with one aspect of the present invention includes opposed side rails adapted to be generally vertically positioned along the sides of the opening. A curtain having longitudinally spaced ends and laterally spaced edges is generally vertically moveable between the side rails. A plurality of longitudinally spaced tabs extend outwardly from the edges of the curtain, and at least one retention member is carried by at least some of the tabs. The retention members are positioned in the rails to maintain the edges of the curtain in the rails. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a curtain assembly to cover an opening in a structure includes opposed rails adapted to be generally vertically positioned along the sides of the opening. A curtain is generally vertically moveable between the rails and has longitudinally spaced at ends and laterally spaced edges. A plurality of longitudinally spaced tabs extend outwardly from the edges of the curtain, at least some of which carry at least one retention member. A first flap is positioned in each rail and has a tip, and a second flap is positioned in each rail and has a tip. The second flap extends angularly toward the first flap such that a space is formed between the tips of the flaps. The space is large enough to allow the curtain to pass therethrough but not large enough to allow the retention members to pass therethrough. 
     A curtain for covering an opening in a structure made in accordance with the present invention includes a fabric material having longitudinally spaced ends and laterally spaced edges. One of the ends is adapted to be attached to a roller, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced tabs extend outwardly from the edges. At least one retention member is carried by at least some of the tabs, the retention members being adapted to maintain the fabric covering the opening. 
     A storm curtain side retention system made in accordance to the concepts of the present invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings without attempting to show all the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied, the invention being measured by the appended claims and not by the details of the specification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a storm curtain assembly of the present invention shown as protecting the window of a structure. 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmented perspective view of a broken away corner of the header at the top of one of the side rails and showing a curtain side edge retention system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a fragmented top plan view of that which is shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an elevational view of a curtain made in accordance with the present invention and having the side edge retention system shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken substantially along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a partial sectional view taken substantially along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 1  and showing the side edge retention system shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6A  is a view like  FIG. 6  but showing the side retention system shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 6B  is a view like  FIG. 6  but showing the side retention system shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 7  is a fragmented perspective view of a broken away corner of the header at the top of one of the side rails and showing a curtain side edge retention system in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a fragmented perspective view of a broken away corner of the header at the top of one of the side rails and showing a curtain side edge retention system in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     A storm curtain assembly made in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral  10  in  FIG. 1  and is adapted to be used to cover an opening, such as a window  11  of a structure. Assembly  10  can be positioned on the outside of the structure or on the inside thereof and includes an upper header  12  which extends across the top of window  11  and a lower sill  13  which extends across the bottom of the window  11 . Laterally spaced side rails  14  extend vertically between the lateral edges of header  12  and sill  13 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a curtain  15  has an upper end  16  longitudinally spaced from a lower end  17  and has opposed laterally spaced side edges  18 . Curtain  15  can be made of any suitable material having a strength to protect opening and is preferably formed of a fabric material as disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/190,114 to which reference is made for whatever details may be necessary to fully understand the present invention. The upper end  16  of curtain  15  is attached to a roller  19  rotatably positioned in header  12 , and curtain  15  is rolled up and stored on roller  19  when not in use. The lower end  17  of curtain  15  is usually provided with a bar (not shown) that is received in sill  13  and in the bottom of side rails  14  when the curtain is covering window  11 . The curtain  15  may be locked at the sill  13  in this down position, if necessary, by a system such as that disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/799,298 to which reference is made for whatever details may be necessary to fully understand the present invention. However, as will hereinafter become evident, it has been found that by utilizing the storm curtain assembly  10  as described herein, the need to lock curtain  15  at sill  13  may not be necessary. 
     The side edges  18  of curtain  15  are provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced tabs  20  which extend laterally outward from edges  18 . Tabs  20  are adapted to receive retention members. As will hereinafter be described in more detail, three embodiments of retention members are shown in the drawings. Staple-like retention members are shown in  FIGS. 2-6  and are indicated generally by the numeral  21 ; rivet-like retention members are shown in  FIGS. 6A and 7  and are indicated generally by the numeral  22 ; and clip-like retention members are shown in  FIGS. 6B and 8  and are indicated generally by the numeral  23 . It should be noted that while it is preferred that all tabs  20  receive a retention member, it is not absolutely necessary that every tab  20  has such a member. Moreover, tabs  20  are sized so as to possibly receive more than one retention member  21 ,  22  or  23  if desired. In addition, if a single retention member on a tab were damaged, the size of the tabs permits a new retention member to be positioned at a different location on a tab than the damaged retention member. 
     Each staple-like retention member  21  is formed of a round metallic wire preferably about one inch in total length and of a diameter of preferably about 0.054 inch. However, a member  21  having a length in the range of about one-half inch to about one and one-half inches and a diameter of about 0.040 to about 0.080 inch could be utilized. The wire material is then installed through the tabs  20  such that two hook portions  24  are formed on one side of each tab  20  which are interconnected by a body portion  25  on the other side of each tab  20 , as best seen in  FIG. 5 . As such, members  21  take on the general configuration of an installed staple. 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 6A and 7 , each rivet-like retention member  22  is formed with opposed disks  26  and a rivet pin  27  which extends through an opening in each tab  20  and engages disks  26 . Disks  26  are formed with a recessed outer surface  28  as will hereinafter be more fully described. 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 6B and 8 , each clip-like retention member  23  is preferably formed of a metallic material, such as spring steel, and includes a U-shaped body  29 , the edge of each tab  20  being positioned the arms of body  29 . Thus, tabs  20  are not penetrated but rather the spring force of members  23  hold them in place on the edge of the tab  20 . A small hook  30  may be formed on the ends of the arms of the U-shaped body  29  as will hereinafter be more fully described. 
     The retention members  21 ,  22 , or  23  are received within the side rails  14  of storm curtain assembly  10  in a manner shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  6 A and  6 B. Each side rail  14  is preferably made of a light weight high strength metallic or non-metallic material and includes an outer frame generally indicated by the numeral  31  having a front face  32  and a side face  33  extending rearwardly from one end of front face  32 . The side face  33  terminates as an inturned flange  34 . A wall  35  extends inwardly from side face  33  between front face  32  and flange  34 , and wall  35  carries hooks  36  positioned on a ledge  37 . An extension  38  of ledge  37  is connected to front face  32  to provide stability to outer frame  31 . Extension  38  also defines a portion of a compartment  39  into which the tabs  20  and retention members  21 ,  22  or  23  are received. A flap wall  40  extends angularly rearwardly from front face  32  and terminates at a notched lip  41 . Wall  40  likewise defines a portion of compartment  39 . 
     An intermediate frame is generally indicated by the numeral  42  and includes a front surface  43  and a rear surface  44  interconnected by a wall  45 . One end of surface  44  is provided with a flange  46 , and the other end is provided with a barb  47 , both of which extend rearwardly to engage an inner frame ( FIG. 7 ) generally indicated by the numeral  48  but not described in detail herein. A hook  49  extends inwardly from rear surface  44  near flange  46  and is adapted to engage flange  34  of outer frame  31 . A wall  50  extends inwardly from rear surface  44  near barb  47  and has a lip  51  which engages one hook  36  of outer frame  31 . A flap wall  52  extends angularly rearwardly from the junction of surface  43  and wall  45  and terminates at a notched tip  53 . A wall  54  extends from flap wall  52  in a direction generally parallel to wall  50 . Like wall  50 , wall  54  has a lip  55  at its end which engages the other hook  36 . Flap wall  52  and wall  54  also define a portion of compartment  39 . Thus, intermediate frame  42  is attached to inner frame  48  via flange  46  and barb  47 , and outer frame  31  is attached to intermediate frame  42  by the engagement of hook  49  with flange  32  and lips  51  and  55  with hooks  36 . 
     Flap walls  40  and  52  oppose each other and their notched tips  41  and  53  are spaced slightly from each other, as at space  56 , to allow the passage of fabric curtain  15 . But space  56  is not large enough to allow the passage of retention members  21 ,  22  or  23  therethrough. Thus, as shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  6 A and  6 B, in the normal use of curtain assembly  10 , curtain  15  extends across the window  11  or other structural opening and into each side rail  14  between front face  32  of outer frame  31  and front surface  43  of intermediate frame  42 . Curtain  15  then extends through the space  56  between flap walls  40  and  52 . The lateral tab  20  ends of curtain  15 , with a retention member  21 ,  22  or  23  attached thereto, are positioned in the compartment  39  of each side rail  14 . As a result, the lateral edges of curtain  15  are maintained in the side rails  14  inasmuch as retention members  21 ,  22 , or  23  cannot pass through space  56 . In fact, during a high wind event causing deflection of curtain  15 , retention members  21 ,  22 , or  23  will be pulled against the tips  41  and  53  of flap walls  40  and  52 , and can tend to cause flap walls  40  and  52  to flex toward each other narrowing the size of space  56  and actually gripping the curtain  15 . The notch in tips  41  and  53  enhances such action as the portions  24  and  25  of retention member  21 , the recessed outer surface  28  of disks  26  of retention member  22 , or the hook  30  of retention members  23  engage and otherwise mate with the notches of tips  41  and  53 . As a result of flap walls  40  and  52  tightly engaging curtain  15 , the lateral edges of curtain  15  are sealed within side rails  14 , and it has been found that this sealing force is sufficiently strong such that the need to lock the curtain  15  at the area of sill  13  may not be necessary, as previously described. 
     When curtain  15  is not being used to cover and protect window opening  11 , it can be rolled up, either manually or by means of a motor, on roller  19 . At this time, the lower end  17  of curtain  15  is still in the rails, as shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  6 A and  6 B, but the vast majority of the curtain  15  is on the roller  19 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  7  and  8 . It should be noted that because the retention members  21 ,  22  or  23  are on the tabs  20  which extend laterally outward of curtain edges  18 , the area required to store the curtain  15  on the roller  19  is not increased. That is, the diameter of the stored curtain is not increased by the presence of the retention members  21 ,  22 , or  23  because these members are not positioned between wraps of curtain  15  on roller  19 . Moreover, it should be noted from  FIG. 4  that the longitudual spacing of tabs  20  is preferably not uniform. As a result, tabs  20  are at different circumferential locations around the stored roll, as shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  7  and  8 , so as not to interfere with each other. That is, the longitudinal spacing between tabs  20  is unevenly designed so that when on roller  19 , tabs  20  will be at different circumferential locations. 
     In view of the foregoing, it should be evident that a storm curtain assembly constructed as described herein, accomplishes the objects of the present invention and otherwise substantially improves the art.