Patent Publication Number: US-2012036988-A1

Title: Window blast shielding system and methods thereof

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/373,557, filed Aug. 13, 2010, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/467,483, filed Mar. 25, 2011, the content of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present invention generally relates to a window blast shield that can substantially retard debris propelled by an explosion. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In exemplary embodiments, a window blast shield for mounting to a window frame can comprise a top retaining body that can be operatively coupled with the window frame&#39;s top region; a bottom retaining body that can be operatively coupled with the window frame&#39;s bottom region; a safety drapery having a strength to retard debris propelled by blast forces, the safety drapery can be operatively coupled with the top retaining body and/or the bottom retaining body; at least one safety cord disposed within a channel within at least one of the top retaining body and/or the bottom retaining body, the safety cord having a greater length than the at least one of the top retaining body and/or the bottom retaining body; wherein applying blast forces to the window blast shield at least one of the top retaining body and/or the bottom retaining body fails and/or the at least one safety cord does not fail; and/or wherein the at least one safety cord supports the safety drapery allowing the safety drapery to billow and/or retard debris propelled by blast forces. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the window blast shield of can further comprise a vertical support cable that can be operatively coupled with at least one terminal support member, wherein the top retaining body and/or the bottom retaining body can be slidably coupled with the vertical support cable. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the window blast shield of can further comprise a vertical support cable that can be operatively coupled with at least one terminal support member, wherein the top retaining body and/or the bottom retaining body can be detachably coupled with the vertical support cable. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the top retaining body and/or the bottom retaining body can comprise a substantially frangible material such that both the top retaining body and/or the bottom retaining body fail when blast forces are applied to the window blast shield; wherein at least one safety cord can be disposed in a channel in the top retaining body and/or the bottom retaining body, the at least one safety cord can comprise a substantially infrangible material such that the at least one safety cord does not fail when blast forces are applied to the window blast shield and/or the at least one safety cord supports the safety drapery, allowing the safety drapery to billow and/or retard propelled debris. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the at least one safety cord can be disposed within a channel within the top retaining body and/or the safety cord having a greater length than the top retaining body; wherein when blast forces are applied to the window blast shield the top retaining body fails and/or the at least one safety cord does not fail; and/or wherein the at least one safety cord supports the safety drapery allowing the safety drapery to billow and/or retard debris propelled by the blast force. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the at least one safety cord can be disposed within a channel within the bottom retaining body and/or the safety cord having a greater length than the bottom retaining body; wherein when blast forces are applied to the window blast shield the bottom retaining body fails and/or the at least one safety cord does not fail; and/or wherein the at least one safety cord supports the safety drapery allowing the safety drapery to billow and/or retard debris propelled by blast forces. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the top retaining body and/or the bottom retaining body can further comprise: a male idler plug; a female idler plug coupled with the male idler plug; an idler spring housed between the male idler plug and/or the female idler plug; a roller having a first end and/or a second end, the first end coupled with the female idler plug; a tension plug coupled with the second end of the roller; and/or a tensioner base coupled with the tension plug. Further, in exemplary embodiments, the tension plug and/or the tensioner base can further comprise corresponding gearing wherein the gearing of the tension plug and/or the gearing of the tensioner base are releasably coupled, wherein at least a portion of the gearing of the tension plug and/or at least a portion of the gearing of the tensioner base fail when blast forces are applied to the window blast shield causing the tension plug to decouple with the tensioner base and/or the at least one of the top retaining body and/or the bottom retaining body to fail. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the at least one safety cord can be shielded from light by at least a portion of at least one of the safety drapery, the top retaining body, and/or the bottom retaining body. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the at least one safety cord can comprise a steel cord. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the window blast shield can further comprise a top cord affixer coupled to the top mount for securing the at least one safety cord. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the window blast shield can further comprise a mounting member coupled with the at least one of the top retaining body and/or the bottom retaining body and/or the at least one safety cord; and/or a tamper-resistant member removably affixed to the at least one safety cord. Further, in exemplary embodiments, the top mounting member can further comprise a mounting plate releasably coupled to the at least one of the top retaining body and/or the bottom retaining body; wherein the mounting plate can comprise an interior mounting plate, a mounting insert, and/or an exterior mounting plate having a recess for accepting the mounting insert, wherein the at least one safety cord can be wedged between the interior mounting plate and/or the mounting insert. Further still, in exemplary embodiments, the interior mounting plate and/or the mounting insert are attached forming an interior mounting member, wherein the interior mounting member can be releasably attached to the exterior mounting plate; and/or wherein the inner mounting plate and/or inner mounting insert are releasably coupled to the external mounting plate by being inserted into the recess in the external mounting plate and/or held in place by a spring. Even further still, in exemplary embodiments, the tamper-resistant member can comprise at least one of a special head screw and/or screw driver assembly, a removable pin and/or pin assembly, a key and/or lock assembly, a hinged latch assembly, and/or a spring loaded sliding latch assembly. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the window blast shield can further comprise a polyester film secured to a window in blast proximity to the window blast shield. 
     In exemplary embodiments, at least one of the top retaining body and/or the bottom retaining body can be a curtain rod. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the window blast shield can further comprise a second safety drapery for retarding propelled debris, the second safety drapery, that can be operatively coupled with the at least one of the top retaining body and/or the second bottom retaining body. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the window blast shield can further comprise a second safety drapery for retarding propelled debris, the second safety drapery being that can be operatively coupled with at least one of a second top retaining body and/or a second bottom retaining body. 
     In exemplary embodiments, at least a portion of the safety drapery can be furled about the at least one of the top retaining body and/or the bottom retaining body, and/or wherein the at least one of the top retaining body and/or the bottom retaining body are round and/or rotatable. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the window blast shield can further comprise a middle retaining body coupled with a middle mounting member disposed between the top mounting member and/or the bottom mounting member being slidably coupled to at least one vertical support cable, wherein the safety drapery, the middle retaining body comprise substantially frangible material such the top retaining body fails when a blast forces are applied to the window blast shield. Further, in exemplary embodiments, the top terminal member can be affixed to a ceiling; wherein the bottom terminal member can be affixed to a floor; and/or wherein the length of the at least one vertical support cable can be greater than the length between the top terminal member and/or the bottom terminal member. Further still, in exemplary embodiments, the at least one vertical support cable comprise a loop caused by a crimp and/or a pin passed through the loop such that the at least one vertical support cable can be affixed to the top terminal member and/or the bottom terminal member. 
     In exemplary embodiments, a window blast shield for mounting to a window frame can comprise a top retaining body that can be operatively coupled with the window frame&#39;s top portion; a bottom retaining body that can be operatively coupled with the window frame&#39;s bottom portion; a safety drapery having a strength to retard debris propelled by blast forces, the safety drapery that can be operatively coupled with at least one of the top retaining body and/or the bottom retaining body, the safety drapery being folded forming one or more pockets attached with a releasable coupling member; and/or at least one safety cord disposed within the one or more pockets of the safety drapery, wherein the releasable coupling member decouples when impacted by blast forces, allowing the one or more pockets to billow and/or retard propelled debris. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the releasable coupling member can comprise at least one of a stitch or a staple. Further, in exemplary embodiments, the releasable coupling member can comprise a clamp for clamping the safety drapery in a folded position forming the one or more pockets, the clamp can comprise a frame having apertures for receiving a screw to couple the clamp together to hold the one or more pockets in a closed position, the clamp being adapted to fail when the safety drapery can be contacted by blast forces. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood with reference to the following, detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein: 
         FIGS. 1A-1B  illustratively depict various elements of a window blast shield, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 2A-2C  illustratively depict a window blast shield substantially retarding debris propelled by an explosion, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 3A-3B  illustratively depict a plurality of safety draperies and/or a window blast shields that can be used to substantially retard debris propelled by an explosion, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 4A-4B  illustratively depict various safety drapery configurations for a window blast shield that can be used to substantially retard debris propelled by an explosion, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustratively depicts an exemplary configuration of various subassembly elements of a window blast shield, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustratively depicts various elements of a window blast shield that can be designed to fail during an explosion, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 7A-7B  illustratively depict various safety cord affixers of a window blast shield, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 8A-8B  illustratively depict various elements of a window blast shield that can be removably mounted, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  illustratively depicts various elements of a window blast shield that can be removably mounted, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 10A-10F  illustratively depict various elements of a window blast shield that can provide for inter alia, billowing, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 11A-11B  illustratively depict various elements of a window blast shield that can have a safety drapery having a curtain form, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 12A-12B  illustratively depict various elements of a window blast shield that can have a safety drapery having a curtain form, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 13A-13D  illustratively depict various elements of a window blast shield that can have a safety drapery having a curtain form having various pleat types, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 14  illustratively depicts various elements of a window blast shield having various deployment pockets, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 15A-15B  illustratively depict various elements of a window blast shield having a deployment roll, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention; and 
         FIG. 16  illustratively depict various elements of a window blast shield having a deployment pocket, in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description. As used throughout this application, the words “may” and “can” are used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a window blast shield capable of substantially retarding debris propelled by an explosion thereby substantially reducing injury and/or damage from the propelled debris. Generally, but not exclusively, in exemplary embodiments, the window blast shield can be used in large, high risk facilities such as airport terminals, embassies, petro chemical facilities, government/public buildings and other similar structures. Further, in exemplary embodiments, at least some portion of at least some elements of the window blast shield can be designed to fail during an explosion and/or be retarded by remaining non-failed elements of the window blast shield. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the elements designed to fail may be constructed such that, if propelled by an explosion, they are less likely to cause substantial injury and/or damage. For example, the elements designed to fail may be constructed of a substantially lighter material such that, if propelled by an explosion, they, inter alia, have substantially less momentum than if constructed of a heavier material. Further, the elements designed to fail may be constructed such that they fail in a controlled manner. In exemplary embodiments, at least a portion of the elements designed to fail may comprise a substantially frangible material. By way of example, a frangible section may comprise less than half the material of the elements designed to fail, more than half the material of the elements designed to fail, the entire material of the elements designed to fail, to name a few. These elements designed to fail may also be used to protect and/or shield other elements of the window blast shield. For example, they can be constructed to protect other elements from creep failure, UV degradation, and/or other undesirable forces and/or failures. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1A , in exemplary embodiments, a window blast shield  100  can include at least one mount  102  that can affix, for example, indirectly and/or directly, to a window/building frame  101 . In exemplary embodiments, window blast shield  100  can include at least one safety drapery  104  that can extend from at least one top retaining body  106   a  to another at least one bottom retaining body  106   b . By way of example, safety drapery  104  can extend from a top retaining body  106   a  substantially near the top of a window  103  and/or frame  101  to a bottom retaining body  106   b  substantially near the bottom of window  103  and/or frame  101 . In exemplary embodiments, the safety drapery  104  can extend from a first end of the top retaining body  106   a  substantially near a first side of a window  103  and/or frame  101  to a second end of the top retaining body  106   a  substantially near a second side of a window  103  and/or frame  101 , and from a first end of the bottom retaining body  106   b  substantially near a first side of a window  103  and/or frame  101  to a second end of the bottom retaining body  106   b  substantially near a second side of a window  103  and/or frame  101 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1B , a window blast shield  100  can be configured such that at least one of safety drapery  104 , retaining body  106   a , retaining body  106   b , a safety cord  108 , and/or mount  102  can be coupled together in various configurations. In exemplary configurations, safety cord  108  can be substantially shielded from light, stress, and/or strain by at least some portion of safety drapery  104 , retaining body  106 , and/or mount  102 . Safety cord  108  may be shielded from light to, for example, reduce UV degradation and/or may be shielded from stress and/or strain to, for example, reduce creep. In exemplary configurations, safety drapery  104  can also substantially retard propelled glass shards from a failed window  103 , debris from failed elements of window blast shield  100 , and/or any other propelled debris. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2A , the top retaining body  106   a  can be coupled to and/or contain a safety cord  108  that can extend from a first end of the top retaining body  106   a  to a second end of the top retaining body  106   a . The bottom retaining body  106   b  can be coupled to and/or contain a safety cord  108  that can extend from a first end of the bottom retaining body  106   b  to a second end of the bottom retaining body  106   b . In exemplary embodiments, the top and bottom retaining bodies  106   a ,  106   b  can be, e.g., a curtain rod, and in exemplary embodiments, the safety cord can be, e.g., a stainless steel, Kevlar, to name a few and/or other tested structural cord, line, cable, and/or fiber. 
     A safety drapery  104  can be coupled to the top retaining body  106   a  and the bottom retaining body  106   b , which can be coupled to respective mount  102 . The mount  102  can be affixed, for example, indirectly and/or directly, to frame  201 . In exemplary embodiments, the safety drapery  104  can be a single continuous safety fabric. Further, each safety cord  108  can also be coupled to the respective mount  102  as well as retaining body  106 , and/or safety drapery  104 . In an exemplary configuration, safety drapery  104  can be relatively taut and located in a substantially parallel plane to glass window  202  and/or in any location that can retard propelled glass and other debris. For example, referring to  FIG. 2B , during an explosion safety drapery  104  can be unrolled and can remain attached to one and/or both the top and bottom safety cords  108 . The safety drapery  104  can substantially retard propelled glass shards  202 ′ and/or any other propelled debris. 
     In exemplary embodiments, at least some portion of any number of elements of window blast shield  100  can be designed to fail during an explosion and/or be retarded by remaining non-failed elements of the window blast shield  100 . For example, referring to  FIG. 2C , at least some portion of top retaining body  106   a  and/or bottom retaining body  106   b  can be designed to fail at a predetermined blast strength. Further, safety drapery  104  can remain coupled to one and/or more safety cords  108  allowing for expansion and therefore can still retard propelled glass shards  202 ′ and/or any other propelled debris including, for example, failed portions  106 ′ of retaining body  106 . 
     In exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 2C , the safety drapery  104  can be coupled to one and/or both safety cords  108  such that a pocket and/or sac can form during an explosion that substantially retards propelled glass shards  202 ′ and/or of the propelled debris at a center of the safety drapery  104 . This pocket and/or sac formed by safety drapery  104  and/or one and/or more safety cords  108  can be used to assist in cleaning and/or containing debris. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3A , more than one window blast shield  100  can be affixed to a window/building frame, for example, on either side of glass window  202 . This may be done to substantially encapsulate a window to, for example, reduce the risk of damage caused by propelled debris. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3B , more than one safety drapery  104  can be coupled to retaining body  106  and/or safety drapery  104  can be band shaped such that retaining body  106  may be located within safety drapery  104 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4A-4B , safety drapery  104  can be coupled to retaining body  106  such that safety drapery  104  can remain located on either side of retaining body  106 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 4A , safety drapery  104  can be coupled to retaining body  106  such that safety drapery  104  remains located on a side of retaining body  106  substantially far from window  202 . As another example, as shown in  FIG. 4B , safety drapery  104  can be coupled to retaining body  106  such that safety drapery  106  remains located on a side of retaining body  106  substantially near window  202 . 
     In exemplary embodiments, safety drapery  104  can be coupled to retaining body  106  such that at least some of safety drapery  104  can be furled about at least a portion of retaining body  106  and/or retaining body  106  can rotate. Safety drapery  104  can be furled about retaining body  106  such that when an explosion occurs at least some of safety drapery  104  can be unfurled from retaining body  106  and/or retaining body  106  can rotate. This unfurling and/or rotating can be designed to retard some of the force from the explosion and/or reduce the speed of propelled debris. 
     Safety cord  108  and/or safety drapery  104  can be constructed of any reasonable material such as, but not limited to, polyethylene, polyester, aramid, para-aramid, acrylic, nylon, olefin, polyolefin, ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), high-modulus polyethylene (HMPE), high-performance polyethylene (HPPE), silicon carbide ceramic, thermoset liquid crystalline polyoxazole, lurex, wool, silk, cotton, flax, jute, hemp, modal, bamboo, asbestos, basalt, glass, any combination and/or further separation thereof, and/or from any material from an animal source, plant source, mineral source, and synthetic source, and/or any other reasonable source. By way of example, safety cord and/or safety drapery  104  can be constructed of Kevlar. 
     Further, safety cord  108  and/or safety drapery  104  can be constructed using any reasonable technique such as, but not limited to weaving, knitting, twisting, braiding, crocheting, knotting, pressing, spinning, laminating, coating, printing, extrusion, any combination and/or further separation thereof, and/or any other technique that can be used to produce a material capable of substantially retarding debris from, for example, an explosion. By way of example, safety cord and/or safety drapery can be constructed of at least one Kevlar material using any techniques such as, but not limited to weaving, knitting, twisting, braiding, crocheting, knotting, pressing, spinning, laminating, coating, printing, extrusion, any combination and/or further separation thereof, and/or any other technique that can be used to produce a material capable of substantially retarding debris from, for example, an explosion. 
     Safety cord  108  and/or safety drapery  104  can be constructed to be compliant with governmental safety requirements, such as, but not limited to, U.S. General Services Administrations compliancy, British Standards Institution, American National Standards Institute, European Committee for Standardization, and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), to name a few. 
     Safety drapery  104  can also increase energy savings by reducing radiant heating as well as reduce glare and/or act as a privacy shield. Further, safety drapery  104  can be constructed such that an individual can look substantially through safety drapery  104 . Further still, safety drapery  104  can come in a wide range of colors such to, for example, accentuate and/or blend in with surrounds and/or increase and/or decrease visibility through safety drapery  104 . Further still, safety drapery  104  can include openings and/or pores such that air can flow through safety drapery  104 . 
     Safety drapery  104  can be coupled to safety cord  108  and/or retaining body  106  by any technique such as, but not limited to, mechanically coupling, chemically bonding, any combination and/or further separation thereof, and/or by any reasonable technique capable of ensuring that safety drapery  104  can be coupled to safety cord  108  and/or retaining body  106 . For ease, at times, safety drapery  104  can be described as having a pocket region which receives and/or slides over safety cord  108  and/or retaining body  106 . This is merely for ease and is in no way meant to be a limitation. 
     In exemplary embodiments, at least some element of retaining body  106  can be designed such that it substantially reduces the quantity of stress and/or strain on safety cord  108 . For example, retaining body  106  can be coupled to mount  102  as well as safety drapery  104  and safety cord  108  can also be coupled to mount  102  as well as retaining body  106  in a configuration such that force applied on retaining body  106  may not be substantially applied on safety cord  108 . As an exemplary configuration, retaining body  106  can include a channel for receiving safety cord  108  such that when safety cord  108  and retaining body  106  are coupled, safety cord  108  remains within the channel without substantially contacting retaining body  106 . In this configuration, force applied on retaining body  106  can be absorbed and/or distributed without being substantially applied on safety cord  108 . 
     In exemplary embodiments, at least some element of retaining body  106  and/or safety drapery  104  can be designed to substantially reduce the quantity of light which reaches safety cord  108 . This can be done to reduce the UV degradation of safety cord  108 . For example, following the above configuration, light may be substantially blocked from reaching safety cord  108  as safety cord  108  can remain within a channel of retaining body  106  that substantially blocks light. 
     It will be understood that at least one mount  102 , safety drapery  104 , retaining body  106 , safety cord  108 , and/or any element of window blast shield  100  can be arranged and/or configured in any reasonable configuration such that window blast shield  100  can substantially reduce the quantity of damage caused by an explosion as well as, inter alia, substantially reduce the quantity of stress and/or strain on safety cord  108 , substantially reduce UV degradation of safety cord  108 , and/or provide a predetermine amount of force that will cause retaining body  106  to fail. For ease, not all possible arrangements and/or configurations are discussed. This is merely for ease and is in no way meant to be a limitation. 
     Further, it will be understood that any of mount  102 , retaining body  106 , and/or any element of window blast shield  100  can be designed, constructed, and/or configured to fail during a blast. For ease, at times, only retaining body  106  is described as failing. This is merely for ease and is in no way meant to be a limitation. 
     Further still, it will be understood that any form of failure such as, but not limited to buckling, corrosion, creep, fatigue, fracture, impact, mechanical overload, rupture, thermal shock, wear, yielding, and/or any other form of failure can be designed to occur with any of mount  102 , safety drapery  104 , retaining body  106 , and/or any element of window blast shield  100 . For ease, at times, only some forms of failure are described. This is merely for ease and is in no way meant to be a limitation. 
     As an exemplary configuration, referring to  FIG. 5 , retaining body  106  can be constructed of further subassembly elements. Such configuration of retaining body  106  can be used as either top retaining body  106   a  and/or bottom retaining body  106   b , as described in  FIG. 1 , and/or both. As shown, retaining body  106  can be constructed of a male idler plug  502  that can couple with mount  102  on one end and couples with female idler plug  504  at the other end such that when coupled an idler spring  506  can be housed therein. Further, female idler plug  504  can couple at one end of roller  508  which can couple at the other end with tension plug  510 . Tension plug  510  can couple with a tensioner base  512  that can couple with a second mount  102 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , as discussed above referring to  FIG. 2C , and  FIG. 5 , in exemplary embodiments, tension plug  510  can couple with tensioner base  512  such that during an explosion tension plug  510  and tensioner base  512  can decouple causing retaining body  106  to fail. More specifically, tension plug  510  can include gearing  602  which can couple with gearing  604  of tensioner base  512 . To ensure decoupling, at least one of gearing  602  and gearing  604  can be constructed of a material that fails at a predefined load and/or can be mechanically configured such that at a predefined load at least some gears fail and/or they can rotate relative to one another. 
     Further, mount  102  can receive a male protrusion from male idler plug  502  causing them to couple such that at a predetermined blast can decouple mount  102  and male idler plug  502 . The amount of force required to decouple mount  102  and female idler plug  504  can be controlled by idler spring  506  housed within male idler plug  502  and female idler plug  504 . For example, when housed within male idler plug  502  and idler plug  504  idler spring  506  can be compressed such that a coupling force can be imparted on mount  102  and male idler plug  502 . The quantity of this coupling force can be controlled by the amount of compression of idler spring  506  and its spring constant such that if a blast force can be stronger than this coupling force, retaining body  106  can fail. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 5 , male idler plug  502 , female idler plug  504 , idler spring  506 , roller  508 , tension plug  510 , tensioner base  512 , mount  102 , safety drapery  104 , retainer body  106 , and/or any other elements of blast shield  100  can include an opening and/or channel such that safety cord  108  can be passed through and/or housed therein such that, for example, during day to day use the quantity of force applied on safety cord  108  can be substantially reduced and/or the quantity of light that can reach safety cord  108  can be substantially reduced. Reducing the quantity of light which can reach safety cord  108  can reduce the chances of failure of safety cord  108 , for example, due to UV degradation. Reducing the quantity of force applied on safety cord  108  can reduce the chances of failure of safety cord  108 , for example, due to creep. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7A-7B , in exemplary embodiments, safety cord  108  can be coupled to mount  102  and/or frame  101  (not shown) such that during an explosion safety cord  108  can remain coupled. It will be understood that safety cord  108  can be coupled to any element of window blast shield  100 , a building that window blast shield  100  is affiliated with, and/or any object affiliated with a building that window blast shield  100  is affiliated with. For ease, safety cord  108  is described, at times, as being coupled to mount  102 . This is merely for ease and is in no way meant to be a limitation. 
     In exemplary embodiments, safety cord  108  can be coupled to mount  102  by a cord affixer  702 . Cord affixer  702  can be any mechanism capable of fastening safety cord  108  to mount  102 . For example, referring to  FIG. 7A , cord affixer  702  can couple to mount  102  such that safety cord  108  can be clamped between at least a portion of cord affixer  702  and mount  102 . As another example, referring to  FIG. 7B , cord affixer  702  can couple to mount  102  and safety cord  108  can interact with cord affixer  702  such that safety cord  108  can be fastened in place. For example, safety cord  108  can be wedged, furled about, clamped to, adhesively affixed, chemically bonded, and/or buckled to at least a portion of cord affixer  702 . 
     Further, in exemplary embodiments, safety cord  108  can be tied to mount  108  using any reasonable knot type such as, but not limited to, bend, binding, coil, hitch, lasing, loop, plait, seizing, sennit, splice, stopper, and/or any other knot type and/or any other knot. 
     It will be understood that male idler plug  502 , female idler plug  504 , idler spring  506 , roller  508 , tension plug  510 , tensioner base  512 , mount  102 , safety drapery  104 , retainer body  106 , safety cord  108 , cord affixer  702 , and/or any other elements of blast shield  100  can be further combined and/or separated. For ease, at times these elements are described separately. This is merely for ease and is in no way meant to be a limitation. 
     Further, in exemplary embodiments, a film such as, but not limited to, a polyester film can be placed on a window that is substantially near window blast shield  100  to further reduce injury and/or damage from the propelled debris and/or propelled window glass shards. Also, the window can be constructed of laminated glass. 
     Further still, in exemplary embodiments, male idler plug  502 , female idler plug  504 , idler spring  506 , roller  508 , tension plug  510 , tensioner base  512 , mount  102 , retainer body  106 , cord affixer  702 , and/or any other elements of blast shield  100  can be constructed of any reasonable material such as, but not limited to any metal and/or alloy such as, but not limited to, aluminum, iron, steel, stainless steel, carbon steel, titanium, iron, copper, zinc, and nickel, to name a few; any plastic material such as, but not limited to, thermoplastics, thermosetting polymers, polyethylene thermoplastics, High-density polyethylene (HDPE), Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), Nylon, Rubber, Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS), High impact polystyrene (HIPS), Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), to name a few; any ceramic such as, but not limited to, alumina and boron carbide, to name a few; any combination and separation thereof; and/or any other material. 
     In exemplary embodiments, various types and configurations of mounts  102  can be used. In exemplary embodiments, a tamper resistant mount  102  can be provided such that a safety cord  108  can be permanently fixed to the tamper resistant mount  102 , and the tamper resistant mount can be coupled to a window frame. The tamper resistant mount can be coupled to the window frame using welded plates in these exemplary embodiments. In exemplary embodiments, the safety cord  108  can be removably fixed to a tamper resistant mount  102 , such that the safety cord  108  can only be removed using tamper resistant equipment, such as but not limited to a special head screw driver, a removable pin with lanyard, a turn key lock, a hinged latch, a spring loaded sliding latch, etc. In exemplary embodiments, the safety cord  108  can be coupled to a mount  102 , which can be fixed to a floor to ceiling cable and/or other line, which can be fixably mounted to structurally secure components of a building, such as but not limited to a ceiling, floor and/or a support beam. 
     In exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 8A , top and bottom retaining bodies  815  can be releasably coupled to mounting plates  820 . The top and bottom retaining bodies  815  can be releasably coupled to the mounting plates  820  so that a window located on either side of the safety drapery  104  can be cleaned and/or accessed. As shown in  FIG. 8B , a mounting insert  825  can be provided within a recess  822  of the external mounting plates  820 , allowing the retaining bodies  815  to be released to allow for cleaning of a window. 
     In exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 8B , a safety cord  830  can be permanently and/or removably affixed to an inner mounting plate  827  and/or a mounting insert  825 . The safety cord can be wedged between the inner mounting plate  827  and the mounting insert  825 , and/or can be furled around screws and wedged between the inner mounting plate  827  and the mounting insert  825 , and/or can be welded, compressed, etc. In exemplary embodiments, the inner mounting plate  827  and/or the mounting insert  825  can be releasably coupled to an external mounting plate  820 , which can in turn be fixed to a floor to ceiling cable which can be mounted fixedly to structurally secure components of a building, such as a ceiling, floor and/or support beam. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the inner mounting plate  827  and/or the mounting insert  825  as described in  FIG. 8B  can be combined as one unit, which the safety cord  830  can be affixed to, for example, indirectly and/or directly. The one unit can be releasably coupled to the external mounting plate  820 , which can be fixed to a floor to ceiling cable which can be mounted fixedly to structurally secure components of a building, such as a ceiling, floor and/or a support beam. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the inner mounting plate  827  and/or mounting insert  825  (as described in  FIGS. 8A and 8B ) can be releasably coupled to the external mounting plate  820  by being inserted into the recess  822  in the external mounting plate and can be held in place by a compressive force, such as but not limited to a spring pushing the insert into the recess. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the safety cord  830  can include a crimp and/or any other change in its shape such that the safety cord  830  can be affixed to an inner mounting plate  827  and/or a mounting insert  825 , which can be two separate units and/or one unit, by being seated in a recess  822 . 
     In exemplary embodiments, the safety cord  830  can include a loop, such as but not limited to a loop caused by a crimp, with a pin passed through the loop such that the safety cord  830  can be affixed to an inner mounting plate  827  and/or a mounting insert  825 , which can be two separate units and/or one unit. 
     In exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 9 , retaining bodies  906  can be releasably coupled to mounting plates that can be located at various locations. For example, retaining bodies  906  can be releasably coupled to end mounting plates  920 ′ and middle mounting plate  920 . The retaining bodies  906  can be releasably coupled to mounting brackets  920  that can be coupled, for example, to a vertical cable  925  that can be affixed, for example, indirectly and/or directly, to a structurally solid element of a building. For example, in exemplary embodiments, the vertical cable  925  can be coupled to a terminal member  930 , which can be fixed or coupled to a structural beam or support at the ceiling or floor. Terminal members  930  can be provided at a ceiling, or floor, or both. In exemplary embodiments, one or more springs may be provided at the terminal members  930 . In exemplary embodiments, the retaining bodies  906  can also be coupled to the ends of a window frame that can be structurally solid. This can be done such that a plurality of windows (and/or a very large window) can be protected (e.g., using a continuous safety drapery) without leaving any spaces and/or gaps allowing glass shards to pass in the event of an explosion. In exemplary embodiments, the retaining bodies  906  can be slidably coupled with the vertical cable  925  such that the vertical retaining bodies  906  may be moved up or down on a vertical orientation. By way of example, the movement of the vertical retaining bodies  906  may be locked by a locking means and restricted by one or more stops. 
     In exemplary embodiments, more than one safety drapery can be provided such that a large expanse, such as multiple windows can be protected. Further, in exemplary embodiments, intermediate brackets can be provided that can be fixed to a floor to ceiling cable which can be mounted fixedly to structurally secure components of a building and/or which can be fixed to the ceiling, floor, support beam, etc., eliminating gaps that broken glass and debris can otherwise pass through. 
     In exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 10A-10E , a safety drapery  1004  can be provided where the length of the safety drapery  1004  can be greater than a window that it covers. In such exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 10A , there can be multiple retaining bodies  1006  such that at least some portion of the retaining bodies  1006  can be designed to fail at predetermined blast strengths. When one and/or more retaining bodies  1006  fail, a safety cord  1008  can remain coupled to the safety drapery  1004  and to the mounts  1002  (as explained above with reference to  FIGS. 2A-2C ), allowing for expansion of the safety drapery to retard any propelled debris. In exemplary embodiments, the safety drapery  1004  can allow for some slack, which can be but is not limited to 10% to 30%, and can be approximately 20%. 
     In exemplary embodiments, as illustrated in  FIGS. 10A and 10B  (which illustrates a side view of an embodiment of  FIG. 10A ), mounts  1002  can be movably coupled to vertical support cables  1010  to allow billowing of the safety drapery  1004 . Vertical support cables  1010  can be mounted on structural members such as the floor and ceiling, to name the few. In exemplary embodiments, a stop  1012  can be coupled to the vertical support cables  110 , to, for example, avoid too much billowing. Further, in exemplary embodiments, during an explosion, the safety drapery  1004  can billow a predetermined amount and deploy to retard any propelled debris. 
     In exemplary embodiments, the stop  1012  can be adjusted such that a small amount and/or no billowing occurs. As shown in  FIG. 10B , a stop  1012  can disengage billowing by being blocked by mounts  1002 . In exemplary embodiments, the safety drapery  1004  can billow up to a predetermined distance approximately the transverse distance between the stop  1012  and the mount  1002 . For example, the safety drapery  1004  will stop billowing once the stop  1012  moves downward and is blocked by the mount  1002 . In exemplary embodiments, the stop  1012  can be placed at the mount  1002  to prevent any billowing, such as during hurricanes and bomb threats, when billowing may not be preferable. In exemplary embodiments, a spring  1014  can be provided which can provide tension for the stop  1012  thus limiting the billowing of the safety drapery  1004 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10C and 10D  (which illustrates a side view of  FIG. 10C ), this embodiment can be similar to the embodiment described in  FIGS. 10A and 10B , with one and/or more pockets  1020  that can be provided along the safety drapery  1004 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 10D , one and/or more pockets  1020  can be provided where the fabric and/or other material making up the safety drapery  1004  can be folded and stitched with a thread. The thread can be of a material that can have strength to hold the safety drapery together and can tear easily in the event of a blast, explosion and/or hurricane, allowing the safety drapery  1004  to billow. 
     In exemplary embodiments, safety drapery  1004  can include, but is not limited to, a pocket, extra fabric and/or any other material and/or configuration pockets stitched with a thread. For example,  FIG. 10E  illustrates an embodiment where a deployment pocket  1020  can be provided for the safety drapery  1004  using clamps  1025 . In exemplary embodiments, two clamps  1025  can be used, as shown in  FIG. 10E , where the clamps  1025  can have holes  1030 , allowing for a screw, rivet, and/or any other such device to be used to couple the clamps  1025  together to hold the pocket  1020 . In exemplary embodiments, the pocket may just be sewn together in a manner that would allow for the threads to be released in the case of an explosion. Such coupling can be designed to fail based on a predetermined blast strength. In other exemplary embodiments, the safety drapery  1004  can be stapled to form a deployment pocket  1020 . As shown in  FIG. 10D , the deployment pocket  1020  can be formed by extending an edge  1020   a  of the safety drapery  1004  in a horizontal direction, and then holding the two ends together at  1020   c , which can be done by a clamp, stapling, thread, or any of the other above-described methods, and is not limited to such. In such embodiments, the device holding the two ends together can be designed to be released in case of explosion. 
       FIG. 10F  illustrates exemplary embodiments where a single safety drapery  1004  can be provided along with top and bottom mounts  1002 . In exemplary embodiments, a vertical safety cable can be provided between the top and bottom mounts  1002 . The mounts  1002  can be movably coupled to vertical support cables  1010  to allow billowing of the safety drapery  1004 . One and/or more pockets may also be provided along the safety drapery  1004  as described above. 
     Other exemplary embodiments are also possible and embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above. For example, the pocket  1020  of the safety drapery  1004  can be provided using different methods and/or devices to provide a pocket  1020 , such as folding the safety drapery  1004  at the pocket  1020 , rolling the safety drapery  1004  at the pocket  1020 , and/or laying the safety drapery  1004  at the pocket  1020  flat, to name a few. Such embodiments will be described more fully below with respect to  FIG. 14 , and are also contemplated by embodiments of the present invention for the embodiments of  FIGS. 10A-10F . 
     In the exemplary embodiments, shown in  FIGS. 11A ,  11 B (which is a top view of  FIG. 11A ),  12 A,  12 B and  13 A- 13 E, the safety drapery  1104  can be provided in the form of a curtain, where the safety drapery  1104  can be bunched along a retaining body  1106  that can be designed to fail, with an associated safety cord  1108  that can be interior of the retaining body  1006 , and/or exterior to the retaining body  1006 . The safety cord  1108  can be coupled to the safety drapery  1004  and designed to survive the blast, as described above with reference to  FIGS. 2A-2C . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , the safety drapery  1104  can have a curtain structure. One and/or more deployment pockets can be provided along the safety fabric  1104  as described above. In exemplary embodiments, mounts  1102  can be movably coupled to vertical support cables  1110  to allow billowing of the safety drapery  1104 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12A , a safety drapery  1204  can be provided having grommets  1215 , that can be coupled to the retaining body  1206  and can allow the safety drapery  1204  to be proved in curtain form along retaining body  1206 . Other methods and/or devices can be used to provide the safety drapery  1204  along the retaining body  1206  and embodiments of the present invention is not limited to the grommets  1215 . As illustrated in  FIG. 12B , in exemplary embodiments, the grommets can be coupled to a horizontal support  1230 . The horizontal support can be a tensioned cable, can be coupled to a tensioned cable, and/or can have a tensioned cable within. The safety drapery  1204  can be stitched with high strength thread  1220 , but is not limited to such. In exemplary embodiments, mounts  1202  can be movably coupled to vertical support cables  1210  to allow billowing of the safety drapery  1204 , as described above. 
       FIGS. 13A-13D  illustrate exemplary embodiments of various pleat types of the safety drapery  1304 . For example,  FIG. 13A  illustrates a S-type pattern for the safety drapery  1304 . Holding members  1310  can be provided along the retaining body  1306  between the mounts  1302  to hold the safety drapery in the particular form, such as an S-type. The holding members  1310  can be designed to fail based on a predetermined blast strength allowing the safety drapery to billow.  FIGS. 13B-13D  are similar to  FIG. 13A , but provide various other exemplary embodiments of the pleat type of the safety drapery  1304 . For example,  FIG. 13B  illustrates an accordion-type pattern for the safety drapery  1304 ,  FIG. 13C  illustrates exemplary accordion-type pattern for the safety drapery  1304 , and  FIG. 13D  illustrates a half round type pattern for the safety drapery  1304 . Various exemplary embodiments of pleat types are possible of the safety drapery  1304  and are not limited to the above. 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , a top retaining body  1406   a  and a bottom retaining body  1406   b  can be provided with a safety cord provided therein, and/or coupled to the retaining bodies. A safety drapery  1404  can be provided between the retaining bodies  1406   a ,  1406   b . The top and bottom retaining bodies are not dynamic. One, both and/or neither of the retaining bodies  1406   a ,  1406   b  can provide one and/or more deployment pockets as illustrated above, and/or allow the safety drapery  1404  to deploy during a blast and/or explosion. For example, as shown in  FIG. 14 , the top retaining body  1406   a  may not have a deployment pocket, and the bottom retaining body  1406 B can have a deployment pocket  1430 . The safety drapery  1404  can have a strong stitch A to an internal cable, and a weak stitch B to the retaining body  1406  that can be designed to fail based on a predetermined blast strength, allowing the safety drapery to deploy out of the deployment pocket  1430 . 
     In exemplary embodiments, various other deployment pockets  1410 ,  1412  and  1414  can be provided along the length of the safety drapery  1404 . The safety drapery  1404  can be slidable with respect to the top retaining body  1406   a , bottom retaining body  1406   b , and/or the deployment pockets  1410 ,  412  and  1414 , and the safety drapery  1404  is not affixed to the top retaining body  1406   a , bottom retaining body  1406   b , and/or the deployment pockets  1410 ,  1412  and  1414 . 
     In exemplary embodiments, one or more of deployment pocket  1410  can provide for the safety drapery  1404  to be laid flat within a thin wall plastic cassette  1420  and/or other similar structure. In exemplary embodiments, one or more kind of deployment pocket such as  1410 ,  1412 , and/or  1414 , may be used. The safety drapery  1404  can be provided flat therein and/or bound together, such as by but not limited to a weak thread and/or nylon tie-furl. In exemplary embodiments, a deployment pocket  1412  can be provided where the safety drapery  1404  can be rolled in a thin plastic cassette  1420  and/or other structure. In exemplary embodiments, a deployment pocket  1414  can be provided where the safety drapery  1404  can be folded in a thin plastic cassette  1420  and/or other structure. The thin plastic structure  1420  can be destroyed by a predetermined blast strength. Any structure can be used for deployment pockets  1410 ,  1412  and/or  1414 , and such structure is not limited to a plastic cassette. In exemplary embodiments, one of the deployment pockets  1410 ,  1412  and/or  1414  can be provided at any point along the safety drapery  1404 , and/or one and/or more of each can be provided at various points along the safety drapery  1404 , and embodiments of the present invention is not limited to any number and/or combination and/or type of such deployment pockets. 
     Referring to  FIG. 15A , a top retaining body  1506   a  and a bottom retaining body  1506   b  can be provided with a safety cord provided therein, and/or coupled to the retaining bodies. A safety drapery  1504  can be provided between the retaining bodies  1506 . A deployment roll  1505  can be provided having an outer housing  1510  and an internal rib  1530 . The safety drapery  1504  can be provided within the deployment roll  1505  between the internal rib  1530  and the outer housing  1510 , allowing for billowing of the safety drapery  1504  during a blast. In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 15A , the deployment roll  1505  can be on a side of a window  1540  that can face a potential blast. In this exemplary embodiment, the internal rib  1530  can be a very thin and weak material, allowing the safety drapery  1504  to billow during a blast. In the embodiment of  FIG. 15B , where the deployment roll  1505  can be on a room side (facing away from the window  1540 ), the outer housing  1510  can be a very thin and weak material, allowing the safety drapery  1504  to billow during a blast. Various embodiments and configurations are possible and are not limited to the above. 
     Referring to  FIG. 16 , a top retaining body  1606   a  and a bottom retaining body  1606   b  can be provided with a safety cord provided therein, and/or coupled to the retaining bodies. A safety drapery  1604  can be provided between the retaining bodies  1606 . The safety cord can be coupled with tube inserts that can be clamped to vertical cables  1605 , which can be coupled to a floor, ceiling and/or a structural support member. A high-strength thread  1620  can be used to hold the deployment pocket  1610  or other exemplary embodiments as described above can be used. A deployment pocket  1610  can be provided along approximately a centerline of the safety drapery  1604 , where the safety drapery  1604  can be rolled and/or folded therein. Other locations of the deployment pocket  1610  are possible and embodiments of the present invention are not limited to such. In exemplary embodiments, the safety drapery  1604  can be, but is in no way limited to, approximately 120 inches wide, and approximately 60 inches from each retaining body  1606   a ,  1606   b  to the deployment pocket  1610 . In certain exemplary embodiments, the deployment pocket length L can be, but is in no way limited to, approximately 12 inches. 
     Now that exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     It will be understood that any of the steps described can be rearranged, separated, and/or combined without deviating from the scope of embodiments of the invention. For ease, steps are, at times, presented sequentially. This is merely for ease and is in no way meant to be a limitation. 
     Further, it will be understood that any of the elements and/or exemplary embodiments of the invention described can be rearranged, separated, and/or combined without deviating from the scope of the invention. For ease, various elements are described, at times, separately. This is merely for ease and is in no way meant to be a limitation. 
     While the various steps, elements, and/or exemplary embodiments of the invention have been outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various steps, elements, and/or exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present invention is to be construed broadly and not limited by the foregoing specification. 
     No element, act, or instruction used in the description of the present application should be construed as critical or essential to embodiments of the present invention unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. 
     Further, the terms “any of” followed by a listing of a plurality of items and/or a plurality of categories of items, as used herein, are intended to include “any of,” “any combination of,” “any multiple of,” and/or “any combination of” multiples of the items and/or the categories of items, individually or in conjunction with other items and/or other categories of items. In addition, as used herein, the term “set” is intended to include any number of items, including zero. Further, as used herein, the term “number” is intended to include any number, including zero.