Claims
- 1. A track for use in a windlocking apparatus comprising a housing piece having a length; an interfitting piece having a length; said housing piece includes a channel extending along the length thereof and said interfitting piece includes a key extending along the length thereof which slidingly and nonreleasably engages said channel along its said length; said interfitting piece includes a first flange which abuts said housing piece and said housing piece includes a second flange; said first and second flanges each have a smooth, convex in cross-section, contour thereon; said housing piece and said interfitting piece form an axially extending cavity; and, said first flange of said interfitting piece and said second flange of said housing piece are spaced apart forming an opening to said axially extending cavity.
- 2. A track for use in a windlocking apparatus comprising a first piece and a second piece; said first and second pieces each include a laterally extending portion; said laterally extending portion of said first piece includes at least one groove therein and said laterally extending portion of said second piece includes at least one protrusion thereon; said laterally extending portions being affixed together; said protrusion of said second piece interfits said groove of said first piece locking said first and second pieces together; said second piece includes an axially extending strut and said first piece includes a reciprocally shaped axially extending groove within which said axially extending strut resides; said first piece and said second piece form an axially extending cavity; said first piece includes a first flange and said second piece includes a second flange; said first and second flanges each have a smooth, convex in cross-section, contour thereon; and, said first flange of said first piece and said second flange of said second piece are spaced apart forming an opening to said axially extending cavity.
- 3. A track for use as a windlocking apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first and second pieces are welded together.
- 4. A track for use as a windlocking apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first and second pieces are glued together.
- 5. A track for use as a windlocking apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first and second pieces are riveted together.
- 6. A track for use as a windlocking apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first and second pieces are screwed together.
- 7. A windlocking apparatus for protecting a building opening comprising a first track and a second track; a flexible curtain; said flexible curtain includes first and second edges each of which include a polymeric semi-rigid strip affixed thereto; each of said tracks include a housing piece and an interfitting piece; each of said interfitting pieces include a flange which abuts each said respective housing piece; each said housing piece having a key way and each said interfitting piece having a reciprocal key which are interlocked together and form axially extending cavities; each said axially extending cavity includes an axially extending opening therein defined by portions of the housing piece and interfacing piece; and, said edges of said curtain and said polymeric semi-rigid strips reside substantially within said cavities of said tracks.
- 8. A windlocking apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of said housing pieces and said interfitting pieces of said track includes a flange thereon.
- 9. A windlocking apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein each of said flanges includes a smooth, convex in cross section, contour thereon.
- 10. A windlocking apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said curtain seals against one said contour of one said flange of both said tracks when said curtain is tensioned.
- 11. A windlocking apparatus for protecting a building opening comprising a first track and a second track; a flexible curtain; said flexible curtain includes first and second edges each of which include a polymeric semi-rigid strip affixed thereto; each of said tracks include a first piece and a second piece; each of said first pieces includes a laterally extending flange having at least one groove therein and each of said second pieces includes a laterally extending flange having at least one protrusion thereon; each of said protrusions of said second pieces interfits a respective one of said grooves of said first piece interlocking said first and said second pieces together; each of said second pieces includes an axially extending strut and each of said first pieces includes a reciprocally shaped axially extending groove within which said respective axially extending strut resides; each said first and second pieces being interlocked together and form a track having an axially extending cavity; each said axially extending cavity includes an axially extending opening therein; and, said edges of said curtain and said polymeric semi-rigid strips reside substantially within said cavities of said tracks.
- 12. A windlocking apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein each of said first and second pieces of said track includes a flange thereon.
- 13. A windlocking apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein each of said flanges includes a smooth, convex in cross section, contour thereon.
- 14. A windlocking apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said curtain seals against one said contour of one said flange of both said tracks when said curtain is tensioned.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application serial number 09/644,924 filed Aug. 23, 2000 which is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 09/520,845, filed Mar. 8, 2000. The invention is in the field of windlocking a building opening to prevent the intrusion of unwanted air, fluid (typically water or sea water) and debris. During hurricanes and other high wind velocity storms, the breach of a building opening can cause great damage to the structure. If the building structure is not breached, then substantial damage can be prevented.
US Referenced Citations (40)
Foreign Referenced Citations (7)
Number |
Date |
Country |
4599 |
Nov 1927 |
AT |
445088 |
Feb 1968 |
CH |
2526264 |
Jan 1976 |
DE |
46923 |
Nov 1936 |
FR |
1467892 |
Dec 1967 |
FR |
2418860 |
Sep 1979 |
FR |
1175772 |
Dec 1969 |
GB |
Continuation in Parts (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/644924 |
Aug 2000 |
US |
Child |
09/851869 |
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US |
Parent |
09/520845 |
Mar 2000 |
US |
Child |
09/644924 |
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US |