Abstract: A rolling shutter characterized by an array of edge-adjacent, parallel shutter slats and full shutter width, clear shutter segments or links articulately interconnecting respective pairs of adjacent shutter slats. The links are telescopically movable in the slats to permit relative movement of the slats between spaced-apart and juxtaposed positions. When spaced apart, the slats form therebetween a gap which exposes the clear link which permits passage of light over substantially the full extent of the gap. The clear links also provide a double hinge-like joint between adjacent slats. The shutter slats are also uniquely reinforced and have an improved exterior appearance.

Abstract: A sliding door, which includes a winding tube, which is mounted on a winding shaft for winding up and unwinding a hanging door for opening and closing-off an opening, and a take-up and tensioning mechanism which is disposed between the free end of the hanging door and the winding shaft and which has traction members which are guided about guide pulleys. The take-up and tensioning mechanism for the hanging door includes take-up or tensioning pulleys, which are freely rotatably mounted on the winding shaft on both sides of the winding tube, and pretensioned leg springs which are disposed between the pulleys and the winding shaft.

Abstract: An operator for a rolling door having a curtain barrel shaft rotatable for actuating the door and including a drive gear adapted for connection to one end of the curtain barrel shaft and a second gear adapted for connection to one end of an idler roller. The idler roller in use engages one surface of the door and extends horizontally across the top of the door opening. A third gear is rotatably mounted in the region of the drive gear and the second gear and an electric motor is provided to rotate this third gear. In one version of the invention there is a moveable fourth gear in meshing engagement with the third gear and driven thereby. The fourth gear can be swung from a first position where it is in meshing engagement with the second gear to a second position where it is in meshing engagement with the drive gear. A chain loop connectable to the door is driven when the second gear and the idler roller rotate and it is provided to close the door even under pressure.

Abstract: A rolling shutter includes a winding and/or unwinding shaft for a sectional structure consisting of blades provided with a catch mechanism engageable by a driving mechanism rotatably rigid with a second shaft disposed downstream of the winding shaft and held by lateral flanges of the shutter housing. The shutter further includes guide rails slidably engaged by the lateral ends of the blades. The second shaft includes at either end a driving mechanism having a backlach consistent with the variable pitch existing between the catch mechanism of two adjacent blades. The driving mechanism is adapted to be actuated by a motor for causing the rotation of the winding shaft in one or the other direction.

Abstract: This control system for a roller-blind or the like comprising swivel blades coupled to a master blade carrying at one end a stud adapted, during its downward movement, to travel in a slide groove disposed behind a rocker and, during its upward movement, to engage both the slide groove, and the rocker, this control system comprises a microcomputer having stored in its non-volatile memory a control program of which the instruction groups are adapted to control the stud movements and the blind movement in relation to four predetermined stop points with respect to the rocker.

Abstract: A rolling firedoor having a closure drum on which a closure is wound, and a chaindrive for rotating the drum to raise or lower the closure. The chaindrive is disconnected from the drum during a fire. Means are provided for reconnecting the chaindrive to the drum from the ground so that the door can be raised in an emergency.

Abstract: This invention relates to a panel shutter mechanism for covering and uncovering the opening of a building, wherein in one position the panels constituting the shutter are arranged in the same plane so as to cover the opening when each of the panels is supported by guide rails uprightly placed on both edges of the opening, and the panels locked in place by a locking mechanism, and in the other position the panels are rolled up so as to leave the opening uncovered, wherein each of the panels is housed side-by-side in a housing located above the upper ends of the guide rails.

Abstract: A windable curtain or blind in which individual bands are wound or unwound on a winding tube. A torpedo device including first and second driving screws acts to reduce input rotational motion resulting from motion of a manual belt. When the belt is fully unwound the individual bands are rotated by means of a rack coupled to the second driven screw to control lighting and ventilation.

Abstract: A barrel ring for use in rolling closures comprising at least two ring sections. One of the ring sections defines a part-circular outer surface. Another of the ring sections defines a part-spiral outer surface. The ring sections are joined together end-to-end to form a barrel ring with the part-spiral surface, at one end, merging smoothly into the part-circular surface.A method for producing the barrel ring is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cover arrangement for a servicing hole comprises a band of a plurality of supporting bars pivotably connected with one another by chains. The band can be drawn into an open position and pushed into a closed position by a reversing motor driving chain wheels which engage with the chains at the band. Guide means at both ends of each supporting bar move along a horizontal U-shaped path which is continuously surrounded by a guiding web structure ensuring that the band is positively guided and cannot buckle even during its pushing motion.

Abstract: An improved sliding cover assembly for converting the open body of a truck, or the like, to a closed body. The assembly comprises an articulated-type cover slidably mounted in a pair of parallel tracks of C-shaped cross-section, each of the said tracks having a lengthwise coextensive channel communicating with the interior space of the open body. The cover includes a plurality of rectangular panels successively disposed adjacent to one another and extending across said open body. Each panel includes a first semi-cylindrical edge portion and a second, semi-cylindrical edge portion having a radius larger than the radius of the first edge portion, said first edge portion being concentric with, and rotatably received by, said second edge portion of the adjacent panel, the successive panels preferably being alternately wide and narrow, whereby the cover may be wound into a space-saving rolled configuration for storage when the cover is slid to its open position.

Abstract: A headrail for a window blind is formed as an integral extrusion comprising a front valance and including rearwardly of the valance a first upward facing channel for receiving the pulley mechanism and a second downwardly facing channel for clamping the blind edge. A wall between the two channels extends upwardly beyond the channels and then rearwardly and downwardly to provide a flange whereby the headrail can be supported on a suitable hook member.

Abstract: In a hollow plastic rolling shutter slat coated on the weather side with a metal layer for reducing the heat transfer while retaining the resistance to bending the inner side of the building-side profile wall is also coated with a metal layer, a minimum spacing always being provided between the two metal layers to insure the thermal insulation. The metal layers have at least one surface reflecting thermal radiation or reducing thermal irradiation. For obtaining the necessary resistance to bending the inner transverse webs of the hollow plastic rolling shutter bar are formed in such a manner that they transmit the shear stresses occurring on bending.

Abstract: A pressure differential compensating door includes a curtain for closing a doorway having a first upper end, a second lower end and side edges and a curtain winding mechanism having the first end of the curtain attached thereto for raising and lowering the curtain. In addition there is a pair of spaced apart guide channels in which side edge sections of the curtain are movable. These side edge sections are sealingly engagable with the channels. A door pressure releasing mechanism connects the door in sealing engagement with a door surrounding structure. The releasing mechanism is operable to move the door away from the door surrounding structure prior to the curtain being raised and to release any pressure differential existing on opposing sides of the door. Special friction reducing members are fixed to both of the side edge sections and extend therealong to reduce the amount of friction between these sections and their guide channels.

Abstract: Rolling closure guide means. The guide means comprise two vertical guide members for use in guiding the edges of a rolling closure during opening or closing operations. Two guide strips are mounted on each guide member for guiding the edge of the closure between them. In one embodiment, the guide strips are manufactured in different thicknesses so that strips of the appropriate thickness, depending on the thickness of the closure, can be mounted on the guide members to guide the closure. In another embodiment, guide strips of only one thickness are used, along with one or more spacers if needed, to guide closures of different thickness in the guide members.

Abstract: A bracket for use in mounting a roller door assembly to a wall comprises a plate having a bearing for support of a drum or end drum, the bearing being closer to one edge of the plate than another, and edge flanges whereby the bearing may be mounted at either of two distances from the wall. Preferably the edge flanges have interengageable formations facilitating stacking of door roller assemblies with the flanges of the brackets edge to edge.

Abstract: A thermal shade for limiting the amount of thermal energy which enters a structure through an opening therein is disclosed. The shade comprises a plurality of integrally formed elongated closed rectangular tubes which have a dead air space, are arranged in parallel relation to each other, and are connected on the side opposite the opening by living hinges. The shade also includes means for positioning shade to limit the thermal energy entering the opening.

Abstract: An automatic lock for a rolling grille or the like is enclosed in guide means on each side of the opening to be closed and is actuated by an effort to open the grille by applying external forces opposite the direction of closure but released by lift tension.

Abstract: A roller blind unit in which the blind may be uncoiled from a spiral coil, the blind being made up of articulated slats and being trained along a generally level structure so that it is not acted upon by gravity to a high enough degree for operation without a power drive, has at least one flexible web-like driver element coiled up interleaved with the blind in the coil and trained at least partly around the outside of the blind coil. One end of the driver element is fixed to the take-up shaft on which the blind is coiled and the other end is anchored on a driving shaft.

Abstract: An enclosure assembly is provided comprising a plurality of panels, a frame defining a path mounting the panel assemblies for edgewise sliding movement across an opening through the frame, and a plurality of lengths of flexible material or screen joining adjacent panel assemblies along the track. Pairs of adjacent panels are relatively movable along the path between closed positions with the pairs of panels in edge-to-edge contact across the opening in the frame, and spaced positions with some of the panel assemblies spaced along the path and extending across the opening with the screen tensioned across the spaces between the panels; and can be moved to a position with all of the panels out of the opening.

Abstract: A winding mechanism for rolling and unrolling an articulated shutter curtain, the winding mechanism comprising a tubular drum with a plurality of integral, spaced-apart arms protruding from its exterior surface. The shutter curtain is attached to one of the arms such that rotation of the tubular drum rolls up the curtain from an extended position or rolls down the curtain from a rolled-up position. More particularly, each arm is alternatively provided at one end with either a rod-like or socket-like projection extending along an edge thereof for slidable interconnection with the rod-like or socket-like projection extending along an edge of the top slat of the shutter curtain. In addition, each arm portion is provided with an arcuate land portion for supporting the shutter in a rolled-up fashion. The tubular drum from which the arms protrude is formed with two half cylindrical elongated members which are slidably engaged by longitudinal bent-over interlocking portions disposed along each edge of the members.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a gear drive such as the gear drive of a roll-type shutter or awning. One of the gear shafts, preferably the driving gear shaft, is rotatably supported such as to be longitudinally displaceable, and carries at its free end a transverse pin. A stationary member is provided with radial grooves engageable by the projecting end of the pin when the shaft is longitudinally displaced under the action of a coil spring. The gear is coupled to the shaft by a pin transversely disposed through the shaft and projecting in longitudinal grooves formed in a portion of the gear. The locking mechanism is unlocked by introducing the end of a crank handle into a coupling socket mounted on the other end of the shaft, and applying longitudinal pressure with the crank handle, such as to disengage the locking mechanism prior to hand-driving the shaft in rotation by way of the crank handle.

Abstract: The safety apparatus for locking slatted roller shutters is disposed in a channel-shaped shutter rail provided on the side of the roller shutter and comprises a locking device, which is connected to one end of a shutter slat and pivoted to the end of a lower slat. The locking device consists of a chain, which with its lower end is indirectly or directly secured to said lower shutter slat and which has flat links, which have sharp-edged and/or pointed ends and which are pivoted on axes which extend substantially in the longitudinal direction of the roller slats. When an upward pushing force is exerted on the roller shutter from below, the chain will automatically wedge itself between the two mutually opposite legs of the shutter rail. No locking action will be exerted on the roller shutter.

Abstract: An insulation and weatherstripping arrangement and associated method for a rolling door includes an insulation supporting member to support a block of expanded polystyrene or similar insulation inside a vertically extending cavity disposed between a guide track and a wall. Most advantageously, metallic parts disposed on the inside of the door are thermally isolated from metallic parts disposed on the outside of the door. Additionally, inner and outer weatherstrips are used for further minimizing heat loss.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is an automatic locking mechanism for a revolving shutter to protect the latter against unauthorized pulling up from the outside, using a locking device which is moved into the locking position after the revolving-shutter casing has been lowered. The device has a lateral axle bearing, with a round bearing element (11) for a belt pulley (2) and a fixed square bearing pin (8) connected thereto and the end of which is designed as a round cylinder. The belt pulley (2) has an annular web (2a) and the roller insertion cap (1) has an annular web (1a), the side webs (1a/2a) having different diameters and interlocking coaxially. A pivotable locking lever (6) engages positively through coinciding gaps. In the lowered state of the revolving-shutter casing, the lever (6) engages with the fixed bearing pin (8) and clamps belt pulley and roller insertion cap against unauthorized turning, so that the revolving-shutter roller connected to the roller insertion cap is also locked.

Abstract: A door is provided having an automatic opening means for the door and a key locking facility for mechanically locking the door in a door closed position and electric circuit means connected with the motor means to sense a change in the electrical operating conditions of the motor above that which is normal for operation of the motor and to remove the above normal power thereby supplied to the motor in such circumstances.The sensing means preferably comprises a means which switches off the power once the electrical operating conditions are sensed above that which is normal and whereby it returns the power some time later and should the motor then reexperience electrical operating conditions above that which is normal the sensing means will again switch off the power to the motor.The sensing means desirably comprise a bimetallic cut out switch means.

Abstract: To insulate a window, the bottoms, the ends and a portion of the tops near the ends of a plurality of relatively-thick, relatively-stiff polyurethane strips are cemented to a flexible fabric by an elastomer. The maximum width of the polyurethane strips increases with their position along the fabric as the square root of a function of the stretching ability of the elastomeric cement and the radius from the center of the roller to the strip. That function includes the difference between the square of a first quantity and a second quantity, the first quantity being the sum of the radius of the particular rolled end and the stretching ability of the elastomer at the edge of the strip and the second quantity being the radius squared. The uppermost polyurethane strip forms a sealing engagement with the sill, the two sides of the backing and the ends of the strips ride in sealing tracks and the bottom strip rests on the sill to form a compartment with the window.

Abstract: Security proof shutter structure applicable to windows, doors, store or garage fronts, utilizing slats constructed of steel or the like. A special S-shaped spring linkage means is secured to respective ends of the slats. The lower hook of each linkage means being engaged with the upper hook of the adjacent linkage means to provide a rotatively operative linkage between adjacent slats without fixed attachment.The hooked linkage is well adapted to independently install or remove any one slat on site and to independently control by sliding the closing of the louvre spacing between adjacent slats or moving apart from each other. The louvre spacing between adjacent slats can be progressively closed or opened. The full lowering takes place with opened louvre spacing and by continued lowering the progressive closing of the louvre spacing between adjacent slats will take place. The winding around the upper roller takes place with fully opened louvre spacing.

Abstract: A support member for the end of a rotatable shaft for winding and unwinding a curtain of articulated slats forming a roll-type shutter or awning. The support member is made of a pair of interlocked, L-shaped plates forming a box-like structure open at both ends. A bushing, through which is passed the end of the rotatable shaft, is journalled through one of the L-shaped plates and is held in position by a U-shaped saddle member. The support member is converted to a gear drive by replacing the bushing with a worm wheel and mounting in the U-shaped saddle member a worm gear meshing with the worm wheel. The worm gear is mounted on, or made integral with, a drive shaft. The U-shaped saddle member is arranged to be mounted in any one of a plurality of positions within the box-like enclosure so as to provide several possible orientations for the drive shaft.

Abstract: An electrically operated roller door driving mechanism for operating a roller door comprising a reversible electrical motor fixedly mounted to one of the roller door supporting drum wheels and housed within the core of the roller door curtain, the motor and drum wheel being arranged to rotate simultaneously, and a ring gear operatively associated with said motor via a reduction gear mechanism, the ring gear being capable of being held stationary with respect to the rotating drum wheel but also being capable of rotating in unison with the drum wheel to thereby enable the roller door to be manually opened and closed in the event of a motor malfunction or power failure.

Abstract: A roller blind for closing openings in buildings, such as windows, doors, or the like, which blind is formed from a plurality of laminated strips which are attached one to the other and whose ends are guided in guide rails, and has an insertable bolt for locking the roller blind and which is provided in the lowermost laminated strip. This lowermost strip is formed as an end bar housing said bolt which can penetrate into an opening in one of the guide rails in the closed (locked) position under the action of a spring. For unlocking purposes, a cord which is secured to the bolt, is guided upwards through endpieces of the laminated strips and secured so that, upon winding the laminated strips around the winding shaft, the bolt is withdrawn from the opening in the guide rail against the action of the spring.

Abstract: A rolling protective gate for store fronts or the like is formed of a series of horizontally-extending transparent slats interconnected and articulated by a series of horizontally-extending metal rods. The transparent slats and metal rods are elongated, and each extends the full width of the building front access opening in which the rolling gate is mounted. The transparent slats and metal rods are privotally interconnected by means of circular ribs extending along the top and bottom edges of each slat which are received within sockets formed in the metal rods. The entire rolling gate is formed of the connected slats and rods for easy assembly, and the elongated horizontal transparent slats provide ready visibility through the rolling gate when the latter is in its lowered position providing a security closure for the store front.

Abstract: A roller shutter door limit sensing means comprising a screw member for rotation in response to rotation of the drum onto which the curtain of the roller shutter door is wound, a limit switch actuator means threadably carried by the screw member to advance or retreat therealong in response to its rotation operates a corresponding opposite limit switch means, whereby the switch means can be activated for the curtain fully closed or the curtain fully opened positions whereby to switch off an electric drive means which opens or closes said roller shutter door.

Abstract: A cover for servicing holes in automotive service stations consists of a band of pivotably connected support members, the ends of which are supported on the longitudinal hole edges. The band is displaceable longitudinally in opposite directions by at least one motor drive to open and close the servicing hole. During the opening movement the band is moved downwardly at one front end of the longitudinal hole. In order to avoid a broadening of this region of the hole the support members are telescopically assembled and are compressed to a reduced length in this region than in the covering region of the servicing hole.

Abstract: There is provided a rolling door construction which includes a plurality of spaced-apart elongated members, each having opposed longitudinal slots, and each slot in section having an enlarged internal portion and a neck portion which is narrower than the internal portion. The construction further includes a plurality of light-transmitting panels of uniform thickness, each panel having opposing side edges and opposing end edges, the two opposing side edges of each panel being received in the slots in two adjacent elongated members. There is also provided a plurality of spacer plate members, each spacer plate member having opposed edge beads received in the internal portions of two slots, the beads being too large to be withdrawn through the neck portions of the slots. The spacer plate members are arranged so that two of them are adjacent the end edges of each panel. Means are provided for restraining movement of the panels and the plate members longitudinally of the elongated members.

Abstract: A combined movable shutter and awning associated with a door assembly, doorway, or the like, in which the shutter is a roller shutter capable of extension and retraction movable between positions providing a security closure for the door assembly, doorway, or the like, when the guiding trackway assemblies are moved to a position alongside the doorway and providing an awning when the guiding trackway assemblies at each side of the shutter are moved to an outwardly extending relationship to the door assembly, doorway, or the like, and supported in a manner to provide an awning supported in a manner which enables access to the door assembly, doorway, or the like.

Abstract: A combined shutter and awning protective device for an opening in a wall such as a window, comprising a plurality of slats of uniform cross-section slidably received within one another and having a rotary member by means of which the shutter can be rolled upon the rotary member to provide for raising and lowering thereof. The device includes frame members which are pivotable whereby the device can be pivoted outwardly from a wall or the like to act as an awning. The device also includes frame sections secured to the wall which allows the device, in its non-pivoted position with the shutter fully lowered, to secure itself in position over the window or the like to act as a protective and security covering.

Abstract: To a grille of standard construction there are added plastic slats to provide a solid barrier creating maximum security and visibility, wherein opposite ends of the added slats are merely crimpled to prevent their removal from the construction. The crimping, however, is not vulnerable to tampering due to their out-of-reach location in the tracking structure of the grille.

Abstract: An inexpensive but easily operable window shade, as for use in a recreational vehicle. A substantially rigid mounting bar has fabric comprising a shade hanging a desired distance from one side thereof and a valance hanging a lesser distance from the other side thereof. The fabric may, for example, be woven wood. Interengageable means, such as snap buttons or "Velcro", are affixed to said valance and to the shade for separably securing them together when said shade is in a desired raised position.

Abstract: Solar heat is utilized for heating a door structure whereby to minimize the escape of heat from within the building or other structure upon which such door is used. The door comprises at least two flexible sheets, one thereof constituting the principal door structure and the other constituting the heat generating means. The second sheet is spaced outwardly of the first sheet and parallel therewith. Both of the sheets are supported in any convenient manner such as on rollers either or both of which are preferably spring loaded for counterbalancing purposes. The inner sheet is normally opaque to normal light and heat radiation, such as by being made of steel, and constitutes the principal door. The other sheet is in one embodiment transparent to shortwave electromagnetic radiation but opaque to longwave electromagnetic radiation and may preferably constitute a piece of transparent flexible plastics material.

Abstract: A cover for a hot tub has wooden or other rigid ribs secured to a flexible, resilient foamed plastic sheet. One rib is secured at an edge of the tub to anchor the cover. The cover can be rolled between an extended position overlying the tub and a rolled retracted position adjacent the tub. A pair of brackets secured to the tub each have a depression in the top surface in which the retracted rolled cover rests.

Abstract: A roller door and frame combination is disclosed. The roller door has corrugations therein and the corrugations are maintained in the desired shape by flexible wearing strips at each side of the door and fastened to crests on one face of the door. The frame has channel members at each side in which the door slides. The channel members have a resilient friction surface therein which is arranged to engage with the face of the door which does not have the wearing strips fastened thereto and the friction surface is of such size as to restrain the door against lateral back and forth movement in the frame and provide controlled resistance to sliding of the door should the door thickness change.

Abstract: A roller blind box includes four longitudinal walls and two face walls interconnecting the longitudinal walls. The face walls support a roller blind shaft and are connected via detachably carried guide members to the lateral roller blind guides. Each face wall is formed symmetrical in relationship to a vertical plane passing through the axis of the roller blind shaft. At each of the lower corners of each face wall there is an insertion opening for receiving a respective guide member.

Abstract: An anti-rattle element for a curtain of a closure, the curtain having a corrugated surface and, adjacent to its edges, either a strap riveted to crests of each corrugation or bridges extending across the troughs of the corrugations. The strap or bridges form detent surfaces engageable by a resilient latching tongue protruding rearwardly from a body of the anti-rattle element. The tongue has a tip that engages either the bridge or the strap to hold the anti-rattle element to the curtain. The body of the element also has first and second abutment side faces and a rear face having a recess therein which embraces a portion of an edge margin of the curtain. The anti-rattle element is connected to the curtain in such manner that its abutment faces are disposed respectively on opposite sides of the curtain and face outwardly therefrom.

Abstract: The invention comprises a wedge-shaped element for securing a roller blind assembly to a wind-up roll, wherein it comprises a plurality of single-walled members interconnected by film hinges.

Abstract: A window shade casing with a cover wall, a side wall, an outer wall and a casing bottom. The cover wall and the side wall are angularly shaped, are formed mutually alike and are engaged on the casing with their edges. The cover wall and the side wall are hooked in one another.

Abstract: A manual operator for a coiling door has a reel mounted for free rotation on a shaft supporting drums to which the coiling door is secured. An endless flexible non-extensible element is mounted on the reel with a sufficient number of turns thereon for complete opening or closing of the door and the reel is secured to the adjacent one of the door supporting drums. The resilient non-extensible element is manually drawn to open or close the door and may be provided with hand holds to facilitate grasping thereof. A guide for the flexible non-extensible element may be secured adjacent the reel to guide the flexible non-extensible element onto and off of the reel.

Abstract: A closure includes a rolling grille of the glazed type. A plurality of rods are pivotally retained in parallel, spaced-apart relationship by a plurality of strings of link assemblies. Each link assembly is formed by two identical link elements journaled upon adjacent rods in back to back relationship. A panel is disposed between each pair of adjacent rods and has its ends secured to attaching means integral with each link element. Ready fabrication and subsequent smooth quiet operation is assured by forming the link elements of a synthetic resin composition such as nylon plastic.

Abstract: A reinforcing means for a closure having a slatted, articulated, shutter for openings in a wall of a building, in the form of a readily detachable beam disposed in close proximity with the shutter. The lower end of the beam is attached to the frame of the closure, and the upper end of the beam is received within a slotted member attached to a wall of the building.

Abstract: Moveable barrier to cover and uncover building window and the like to control thermal energy transmission. Barrier includes group of elongated hollow, slats mounted on tracks and connected by pivots. Slats form generally rectangular shaped moveable panel. Material of tracks and slats and the dead air spaces of slats form thermal barrier. Panel can be moved to cover and uncover area. Pivots provide for panel to be rolled up when moved to the uncover position.