Abstract: A storm curtain assembly (10) includes a fabric curtain (11) which may be wound onto a roll (17) and stored within a canister housing (16) when not in use, and substantially unwound from the roll (17) to cover an opening in a building. When unwound, a lock bar (18) is engaged by the hooks (27) of the lock blocks (21) carried by the housing (16) and by lock tabs (22) carried by the housing (16). The lock tabs (22) extend through slots (28) formed in curtain (11) so as to be able to engage the lock bar (18). As such, the roll (17) and other drive or counterbalance components (15) carried in the housing (16) are protected from any forces on the curtain (11), such forces being absorbed by the housing (16).

Abstract: A system for protecting an opening, such as a window (11) in a structure (12) includes a fabric cover (13) having spaced openings (14) around the periphery thereof. In one embodiment, a frame (21) includes a track (27) and a stem (24) which is received in a slot (20) formed on the periphery of the window (11). The track (27) carries connector assemblies (15) which are received through the openings (14) in the cover (13) to attach the cover (13) to the frame (21). In another embodiment, the track is formed in a component (50) of a frame (40) and a web (42) attached the component (50) to another frame component (41) which is attached by fasteners (60) adjacent to the window (11).

Abstract: A method of constructing a fabric storm cover (15) to protect an opening (11) in a structure (12) includes the steps of determining the orientation of grommets (14) to be inserted into a fabric panel (10), determining the size of the opening (11), selecting the amount of overlap of the edges not having the grommets (14), determining the grommet span (C), and selecting a panel (10) from a plurality of panels based on the determined grommet span (C). Once the panel (10) is selected, the maximum allowable distance between the grommets (14) is determined, and then the grommets (14) are positioned through thickened areas (13) in the panel (10) at a distance (D) not to exceed the maximum allowable distance.

Abstract: A storm cover (10) to protect an opening in a structure includes a plurality of fabric panels (13) attached to each other by connectors (20). A receiver (24) is adapted to be attached to the structure and carries one end of the cover (10). A latch mechanism (30) includes a base (31) which is adapted to be attached to the structure. The latch mechanism (30) includes a tension connector (35) which is attached to the other end of the cover (10), and a tensioning arm (42) pivotally connected to the tension connector (35). Rotation of a handle (44) on the arm (42) positions a tab (39) of the tension connector (35) in a slot (33) in the base (31) and positions a pivot surface (46) of the arm (42) in a hook (34) in the base (31) to attach the other end of the cover (10) to the structure while at the same time tensioning the fabric.

Abstract: A storm curtain assembly (10) includes a fabric curtain (11) which may be wound onto a roll (17) and stored within a canister housing (16) when not in use, and substantially unwound from the roll (17) to cover an opening in a building. When unwound, a lock bar (18) is engaged by the hooks (27) of the lock blocks (21) carried by the housing (16) and by lock tabs (22) carried by the housing (16). The lock tabs (22) extend through slots (28) formed in curtain (11) so as to be able to engage the lock bar (18). As such, the roll (17) and other drive or counterbalance components (15) carried in the housing (16) are protected from any forces on the curtain (11), such forces being absorbed by the housing (16).