Claims
- 1. A barrier apparatus for sealing and creating a barrier across a door opening defined by opposing sides and a top side, the apparatus comprising:
- a support roller rotatably mounted about the top side of the door opening,
- a flexible curtain member attached to the support roller and adapted to be rolled about the support roller in response rotation of the roller between a sealing position wherein the curtain member forms an air-blocking seal across the door opening and an open position wherein the curtain member is rolled about the support roller so as to present an unobstructed door opening, the curtain member having a plurality of unattached strip panels defined by top, bottom and opposing sides which span the door opening in adjacent relationship to each other to form the air-blocking seal across the door opening and which permit personnel and material to pass therethrough, and
- means for sealing the sides of the curtain member when the curtain member is forced away from the sides of the door opening.
- 2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the curtain member has a plurality of rows, each row formed by adjacent strip panels and the strip panels of one row overlap the strip panels of another row to form the air blocking seal.
- 3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein one row of strip panels includes end and interior panels, at least one end panel of such row having a portion in overlapping relationship with an interior panel in another row such that rotation of the roller causes the end panel to roll about the roller and the diameter of the overlapping portion is greater than the nonoverlapping portion so that the end panel moves towards the interior panel and away from the door edge as the panel rolls up.
- 4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the sealing means comprises a seal member attached to the door opening and defining an outwardly tapered cavity for receiving the end panel when the end panel moves away from the interior panel and towards the door edge as the panel rolls down.
- 5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sealing means comprises a seal member attached to the door opening and defining a cavity for receiving a strip panel and an inboard portion for engaging the strip panel when the strip panel is forced away from the sides of door opening.
- 6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the seal member has first and second ends and a substantially S-shaped cross section.
- 7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the seal member is adapted to allow the strip panel to disengage from the inboard portion of the seal member when the strip panel is forced away from the sides of the door opening by a force in excess of a predetermined amount.
- 8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the seal member is adapted to receive the strip panel back in the cavity of the seal member when the force in excess of a predetermined amount is eliminated.
- 9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the width of at least one of the strip panels becomes narrower from the top to the bottom of the strip panel.
- 10. A barrier apparatus for sealing and creating a barrier across a door having opposing sides and a top side defining a door opening, the apparatus comprising:
- a support roller rotatably mounted about the top side of the door,
- a flexible curtain member attached to the support roller and adapted to be rolled about the support roller in response rotation of the roller between a sealing position wherein the curtain member forms an air-blocking seal across the door opening and an open position wherein the curtain member is rolled about the support roller so as to present an unobstructed door opening, and the curtain member comprises an upper solid, flexible panel disposed across a top portion of the door opening and having a top side attached to the support roller and a bottom side attached to a plurality of strip panels defined by top, bottom and opposing sides which span a lower portion of the door opening in adjacent relationship to each other to form the air-blocking seal across the door opening and which permit personnel and material to pass therethrough, and
- means for sealing the sides of the curtain member when the curtain member is forced away from the sides of the door opening.
- 11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein the curtain member has a plurality of rows, each row formed by adjacent strip panels and the strip panels of one row overlap the strip panels of another row to form the air blocking seal.
- 12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein one row of strip panels includes end and interior panels, at least one end panel of such row having a portion in overlapping relationship with an interior panel in another row such that rotation of the roller causes the end panel to roll about the roller and the diameter of the overlapping portion is greater than the nonoverlapping portion so that the end panel moves towards the interior panel and away from the door edge as the panel rolls up.
- 13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the sealing means comprises a seal member attached to the door opening and defining an outwardly tapered cavity for receiving the end panel when the end panel moves away from the interior panel and towards the door edge as the panel rolls down.
- 14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein the sealing means comprises a seal member attached to the door opening and defining a cavity for receiving a strip panel and an inboard portion for engaging the strip panel when the strip panel is forced away from the sides of door opening.
- 15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein the seal member has first and second ends and a substantially S-shaped cross section.
- 16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein the seal member is adapted to allow the strip panel to disengage from the inboard portion of the seal member when the strip panel is forced away from the sides of the door opening by a force in excess of a predetermined amount.
- 17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein the seal member is adapted to receive the strip panel back in the cavity of the seal member when the force in excess of a predetermined amount is eliminated.
- 18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein the width of at least one of the strip panels becomes narrower from the top to the bottom of the strip panel.
- 19. A barrier apparatus for partitioning a space, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame rotatably supporting a support roller,
- a flexible curtain member attached to the support roller and adapted to be rolled about the support roller in response rotation of the roller between a barrier position wherein the curtain member forms a partition across the space and an open position wherein the curtain member is rolled about the support roller so as to present an unobstructed space, the curtain member having a plurality of unattached strip panels defined by top, bottom and opposing sides which span the space in adjacent relationship to each other to form the partition across the space and which permit personnel and material to pass therethrough, and
- means for sealing the sides of the curtain member when the curtain member is forced away from the sides of the frame.
- 20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein the curtain member has a plurality of rows, each row formed by adjacent strip panels and the strip panels of one row overlap the strip panels of another row to form the partition.
- 21. The apparatus as set forth in claim 20 wherein one row of strip panels includes end and interior panels, at least one end panel of such row having a portion in overlapping relationship with an interior panel in another row such that rotation of the roller causes the end panel to roll about the roller and the diameter of the overlapping portion is greater than the nonoverlapping portion so that the end panel moves towards the interior panel and away from the edge of the frame as the panel rolls up.
- 22. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein the sealing means comprises a seal member attached to the frame and defining a cavity for receiving a strip panel and an inboard portion for engaging the strip panel when the strip panel is forced away from the sides of the frame.
- 23. The apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein the seal member has first and second ends and a substantially S-shaped cross section.
- 24. The apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein the seal member is adapted to allow the strip panel to disengage from the inboard portion of the seal member when the strip panel is forced away from the sides of the door opening by a force in excess of a predetermined amount.
- 25. The apparatus as set forth in claim 24 wherein the seal member is adapted to receive the strip panel back in the cavity of the seal member when the force in excess of a predetermined amount is eliminated.
- 26. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein the width of at least one of the strip panels becomes narrower from the top to the bottom of the strip panel.
- 27. A barrier apparatus for partitioning a space, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame rotatable mounting a support roller,
- a flexible curtain member attached to the support roller and adapted to be rolled about the support roller in response rotation of the roller between a barrier position wherein the curtain member forms a partition across the space and an open position wherein the curtain member is rolled about the support roller so as to present an unobstructed space, and the curtain member comprises an upper solid, flexible panel wherein the upper panel is disposed across a top portion of the space and has a top side attached to the support roller and a bottom side attached to a plurality of strip panels defined by top, bottom and opposing sides which span a lower portion of the space in adjacent relationship to each other to form the partition across the space and which permit personnel and material to pass therethrough, and
- means for sealing the sides of the curtain member when the curtain member is forced away from the sides of the frame.
- 28. The apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein the curtain member has a plurality of rows, each row formed by adjacent strip panels and the strip panels of one row overlap the strip panels of another row to form the partition.
- 29. The apparatus as set forth in claim 28 wherein one row of strip panels includes end and interior panels, at least one end panel of such row having a portion in overlapping relationship with an interior panel in another row such that rotation of the roller causes the end panel to roll about the roller and the diameter of the overlapping portion is greater than the nonoverlapping portion so that the end panel moves towards the interior panel and away from the edge of the frame as the panel rolls up.
- 30. The apparatus as set forth in claim 27 wherein the sealing means comprises a seal member attached to the frame and defining a cavity for receiving a strip panel and an inboard portion for engaging the strip panel when the strip panel is forced away from the sides of the frame.
- 31. The apparatus as set forth in claim 30 wherein the curtain member disposed along the opposing sides of the door has two or more strip panels in overlapping and abutting relation for support and reinforcement.
- 32. The apparatus as set forth in claim 30 wherein the seal member is adapted to allow the strip panel to disengage from the inboard portion of the seal member when the strip panel is forced away from the sides of the door opening by a force in excess of a predetermined amount.
- 33. The apparatus as set forth in claim 32 wherein the seal member is adapted to receive the strip panel back in the cavity of the seal member when the force in excess of a predetermined amount is eliminated.
- 34. A barrier apparatus for sealing and creating a barrier across a door opening defined by opposing sides and a top side, the apparatus comprising:
- a support roller rotatably mounted about the top side of the door opening,
- a flexible curtain member attached to the support roller and adapted to be rolled about the support roller in response rotation of the roller between a sealing position wherein the curtain member forms an air-blocking seal across the door opening and an open position wherein the curtain member is rolled about the support roller so as to present an unobstructed door opening, the curtain member having a plurality of strip panels defined by top, bottom and opposing sides which span the door opening in adjacent relationship to each other to form the air-blocking seal across the door opening and which permit personnel and material to pass therethrough,
- wherein the curtain member has a plurality of rows, each row formed by adjacent strip panels and the strip panels of one row overlap the strip panels of another row to form the air blocking seal.
- 35. The apparatus as set forth in claim 34 wherein one row of strip panels includes end and interior panels, at least one end panel of such row having a portion in overlapping relationship with an interior panel in another row such that rotation of the roller causes the end panel to roll about the roller and the diameter of the overlapping portion is greater than the nonoverlapping portion so that the end panel moves towards the interior panel and away from the door edge as the panel rolls up.
- 36. The apparatus as set forth in claim 35 wherein the width of at least one end panel and the width of at least one interior panel become narrower from the top to the bottom of the panels.
- 37. The apparatus as set forth in claim 35 wherein at least one of the end panels has an exterior side that is generally straight and adjacent the door side and an interior side that tapers towards the exterior side from the top to the bottom of the strip panel.
- 38. The apparatus as set forth in claim 37 wherein the sides of at least one of the interior panels taper towards each other from the top to the bottom of the interior panel.
- 39. A barrier apparatus for sealing and creating a barrier across a door having opposing sides and a top side defining a door opening, the apparatus comprising:
- a support roller rotatably mounted about the top side of the door,
- a flexible curtain member attached to the support roller and adapted to be rolled about the support roller in response rotation of the roller between a sealing position wherein the curtain member forms an air-blocking seal across the door opening and an open position wherein the curtain member is rolled about the support roller so as to present an unobstructed door opening, and the curtain member comprises an upper solid, flexible panel disposed across a top portion of the door opening and having a top side attached to the support roller and a bottom side attached to a plurality of strip panels defined by top, bottom and opposing sides which span a lower portion of the door opening in adjacent relationship to each other to form the air-blocking seal across the door opening and which permit personnel and material to pass therethrough,
- wherein the curtain member has a plurality of rows, each row formed by adjacent strip panels and the strip panels of one row overlap the strip panels of another row to form the air blocking seal, and
- wherein one row of strip panels includes end and interior panels, at least one end panel of such row having a portion in overlapping relationship with an interior panel in another row such that rotation of the roller causes the end panel to roll about the roller and the diameter of the overlapping portion is greater than the nonoverlapping portion so that the end panel moves towards the interior panel and away from the door edge as the panel rolls up.
- 40. The apparatus as set forth in claim 39 wherein the width of at least one end panel and the width of at least one interior panel become narrower from the top to the bottom of the panels.
- 41. The apparatus as set forth in claim 39 wherein at least one of the end panels has an exterior side that is generally straight and adjacent the door side and an interior side that tapers towards the exterior side from the top to the bottom of the strip panel.
- 42. The apparatus as set forth in claim 41 wherein the sides of at least one of the interior panels taper towards each other from the top to the bottom of the interior panel.
- 43. A barrier apparatus for partitioning a space, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame rotatably supporting a support roller,
- a flexible curtain member attached to the support roller and adapted to be rolled about the support roller in response rotation of the roller between a barrier position wherein the curtain member forms a partition across the space and an open position wherein the curtain member is rolled about the support roller so as to present an unobstructed space, the curtain member having a plurality of strip panels defined by top, bottom and opposing sides which span the space in adjacent relationship to each other to form the partition across the space and which permit personnel and material to pass therethrough,
- wherein the curtain member has a plurality of rows, each row formed by adjacent strip panels and the strip panels of one row overlap the strip panels of another row to form the partition.
- 44. The apparatus as set forth in claim 43 wherein one row of strip panels includes end and interior panels, at least one end panel of such row having a portion in overlapping relationship with an interior panel in another row such that rotation of the roller causes the end panel to roll about the roller and the diameter of the overlapping portion is greater than the nonoverlapping portion so that the end panel moves towards the interior panel and away from the edge of the frame as the panel rolls up.
- 45. The apparatus as set forth in claim 41 wherein the width of at least one end panel and the width of at least one interior panel become narrower from the top to the bottom of the panels.
- 46. The apparatus as set forth in claim 44 wherein at least one of the end panels has an exterior side that is generally straight and adjacent the door side and an interior side that tapers towards the exterior side from the top to the bottom of the strip panel.
- 47. The apparatus as set forth in claim 46 wherein the sides of at least one of the interior panels taper towards each other from the top to the bottom of the interior panel.
- 48. A barrier apparatus for partitioning a space, the apparatus comprising:
- a frame rotatable mounting a support roller,
- a flexible curtain member attached to the support roller and adapted to be rolled about the support roller in response rotation of the roller between a barrier position wherein the curtain member forms a partition across the space and an open position wherein the curtain member is rolled about the support roller so as to present an unobstructed space, and the curtain member comprises an upper solid, flexible panel wherein the upper panel is disposed across a top portion of the space and has a top side attached to the support roller and a bottom side attached to a plurality of strip panels defined by top, bottom and opposing sides which span a lower portion of the space in adjacent relationship to each other to form the partition across the space and which permit personnel and material to pass therethrough,
- wherein the curtain member has a plurality of rows, each row formed by adjacent strip panels and the strip panels of one row overlap the strip panels of another row to form the partition, and
- wherein one row of strip panels includes end and interior panels, at least one end panel of such row having a portion in overlapping relationship with an interior panel in another row such that rotation of the roller causes the end panel to roll about the roller and the diameter of the overlapping portion is greater than the nonoverlapping portion so that the end panel moves towards the interior panel and away from the edge of the frame as the panel rolls up.
- 49. The apparatus as set forth in claim 48 wherein the width of at least one end panel and the width of at least one interior panel become narrower from the top to the bottom of the panels.
- 50. The apparatus as set forth in claim 48 wherein at least one of the end panels has an exterior side that is generally straight and adjacent the door side and an interior side that tapers towards the exterior side from the top to the bottom of the strip panel.
- 51. The apparatus as set forth in claim 50 wherein the sides of at least one of the interior panels taper towards each other from the top to the bottom of the interior panel.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/130,590, filed Oct. 1, 1993 and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,890.
US Referenced Citations (32)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
521521 |
Jul 1921 |
FRX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
130590 |
Oct 1993 |
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