Patent ID: 8156995

Claim:
A door element movable between a closed position in which the element extends across a doorway to at least partially block the doorway, and an open position where at least a portion of the element moves to a non-blocking position relative to the doorway, the element comprising: a first flexible side element to transmit tensile forces and including a proximal end and a distal end; a second flexible side element to resist compressive forces and including a proximal end and a distal end, the first and second side elements being coupled to each other at their distal ends; a plurality of connecting ribs flexibly coupled to the first and second side elements to transmit tensile forces between the first and second side elements; and an actuator to apply a longitudinal tensile force to the proximal end of the first side element, wherein the resulting deformation of the second side element is transmitted to the first side element by the connecting ribs in movement of the door element to the open position.