Abstract: A reinforcement assembly for a panel garage door, the assembly having multiple sliding locking members that are repositioned from a neutral or disengaged position on panel stiles to an active or engaged position bridging the hinge connecting adjacent stiles, such that adjacent panels are precluded from pivoting. Preferably, header and footer engagement assemblies are also provided to secure the door to the header and floor.

Abstract: A portable folding room partition has typically five articulated panels with wheels including two panels located at the ends of the partition which comprise carrier panels that serve as stabilizing elements for imparting movement to several intermediate panels as the partition is folded or unfolded. Each of the carrier panels includes a vertical end frame member having a horizontal spread end foot with wheels rigidly connected to its lower end. A pull handle is connected to each carrier panel in a position aligned over each spread end foot. The intermediate panels also have wheels and are hingedly connected to one another between the carrier panels to define the partition. Movement of the carrier panels by persons gripping the pull handles acts to spread or collapse the inactive intermediate panels while providing them with stabilizing support at each end. In a preferred form, each of the carrier panels has a pair of spaced apart spreaders.

Abstract: A three point pivoting 360° articulable pinchless hinge connects two members which may pivot 360° with respect to each other. The hinge has two opposing couplers, each having a toothed semicircular portion meshed with the opposing coupler toothed semicircular portion. Each coupler is adapted to be connected to one of the members to be pivoted with respect to each other. A pin is in each coupler extending along an axis of the semicircular portion thereof. A link connects each pin to maintain the meshed engagement of the couplers through 360° of coupler pivotal rotation with respect to each other. The link has a sufficient width substantially that of the width of the coupler body as to block and prevent the meshed semicircular portions from pinching an individual's finger or object. The hinge may also have a locking mechanism or detent which locks the two members at 180° from each other.

Abstract: A panel assembly includes a number of rectangular panels each carrying solar cells or a cooling radiator on one of the two main surfaces, where the panels are interconnected mutually by hinges such that the assembly from a first state, in which the panels are folded into a package, can be brought into a second state in which the package is unfolded and the panels are situated alongside each other. A torsion element substantially extends across the other main surface of each panel from a first position on the hinge axis between the panel and the adjoining panel at one side, to a second position on the hinge axis between the panel and the adjoining panel at the other side, whereby the torsion element at or near the first and second positions is attached to the respective adjoining panel.

Abstract: Adjacent backdrop panels and a suspended canopy comprising a stage shell, wherein the backdrop panels include angular alignment devices for readily and accurately aligning adjacent panels to present a pleasing, uniform appearance and tilt aligning devices to readily align the angle of tilt of the backdrop panels. The suspended canopy formed of individual canopy panels having rotatable hinge devices for storing the canopy panels in a substantially vertical position and having a readily engageable stay assembly for accurately fixing the relative angle of the canopy panels when deployed in a performance position above the backdrop panels.

Abstract: Vertically opening sectional doors, such as residential garage doors, are reinforced against high wind loads in their closed positions by a set of reinforcing and locking pin receiving tubes supported on each sectional panel and aligned with each other. Each receiving tube supports a door reinforcing pin or bolt in a retracted position by a removable retaining pin. The retaining pins may be released to allow the reinforcing pins to partially extend from one tube into an adjacent tube on an adjacent door section to prevent pivotal movement of door sections relative to each other. A top wall bracket adjacent the upper horizontal edge of the door includes a member engageable with the door edge and a pair of links connected to one of the pin receiving tubes to retain the top edge of the door from displacement away from the door opening and to prevent opening movement of the door during high wind loads imposed thereon.

Abstract: A plurality of plastic panels or planks (12) are connected to each other in side by side relation by interfitting male and female connectors (28, 30) to form a planar structure such as a cover (10). The male connector (28) has opposed outer planar surfaces (32, 34) in contact relation to opposed inner planar surfaces (46, 48) on a female connector (30) to minimize any relative pivoting or articulating movement between adjacent panels (12). Adjacent panel sections (15A, 17B) are hinged to each other about hinges (35E) to permit the panel sections (15A, 17B) to be folded against each other for stacking. Alternatively panels 14C, 14D may be linked together for stacking. A side support (16) is secured to the sides of the cover (10) to cover and to support a side of a panel where such side is not connected to another panel.

Abstract: A partially movable divider assembly primarily designed for mounting to an overhead structure, such as a passenger service unit rail or ceiling, in the cabin interior of an aircraft, to provide a privacy barrier between two seating sections of different classes. An upper stationary panel is fixedly mounted to the overhead structure and a lower movablle panel is hingedly attached along a bottom edge of the upper panel to permit swinging movement of the lower panel relative to the upper panel in response to a force applied to the lower panel. A biasing element and dampening structure urge the lower panel into a normal vertical position in coplanar relation to the upper panel, while reducing excessive swinging movement thereof.

Abstract: An improved wind shelter with an arm mechanism which urges arm segments interconnecting adjacent posts into a horizontal, aligned and opposing position when the wind shelter is in use and which urges such arm segments towards a position in which they are contiguous along their lengths when the wind shelter is collapsed for transportation, the fabric of the wind shelter having parallel pockets for receiving posts and an upper flap portion for removably attaching the fabric to the posts.

Abstract: A portable display system having a plurality of hollow panel assemblies with each comprising two parallel and facing wall boards secured within a border strip device. Eight panel assemblies are hinged together to fold and unfold between a folded position in which all panel assemblies are in parallel stacked relation and an unfolded position in which the panels are open in any one of a number of different positions including a continuous wall arrangement.

Abstract: This invention relates to a locking device, having a U-shaped cross-section, for use with bi-fold doors. The device is designed to be slidably mounted on the top edge of one panel of a bi-fold door in the open position. When the door is closed, the device is slid over the top edge of both panels, and a bolt portion is inserted in the space between the two panels. To open the door, the locking portion is simply removed from said space and the locking device is moved to the top edge of just one of the panels.

Abstract: A stay or latch for holding in a shut position folding doors of the type consisting of at least a pair of panels hinged at their adjoining edges. The latch of the invention is a channel-shaped member slidably mounted on the top edge of one of the folding door panels and manually slidable along the top edge to a position straddling the hinged junction between adjacent panels such as to prevent one panel from hingedly pivoting relative to the other.

Abstract: A sun shade screen having a hollow frame and flexible screen material surrounded by and attached to the frame. The frame is formed in two equal frame members with the open hollow frame sections of each member opposing the hollow frame sections of the other member. The opposing hollow frame sections are maintained in registration by flexible inserts extending into the hollow frame sections to permit the frame members to be hinged relative to one another and to permit the frame and said flexible material to be folded upon itself.