Abstract: A flexible curtain rollup door includes a drum mounted on a door frame and drivenly connected to an electric right angle gear motor unit. The frame includes opposed channel shaped guide tracks for receiving opposed side edges of a door curtain. Spaced apart elastically deflectable combination curtain stiffening struts and windlock members are secured to the curtain and include opposed windlock parts receivable in the guide tracks and configured, respectively, to provide for releasing only one side edge of the curtain from its guide track. A flexible transverse bottom bar includes plural side by side flexible bags filled with particulate material, secured to the curtain bottom edge and enclosed by a flexible envelope member. The curtain bottom edge includes a stiffener formed of interconnected links.

Abstract: A flexible curtain rollup door includes a drum mounted on a door frame and drivenly connected to an electric right angle gear motor unit. The frame includes opposed channel shaped guide tracks for receiving opposed side edges of a door curtain. Spaced apart elastically deflectable combination curtain stiffening struts and windlock members are secured to the curtain and include opposed windlock parts receivable in the guide tracks and configured, respectively, to provide for releasing only one side edge of the curtain from its guide track. A flexible transverse bottom bar includes plural side by side flexible bags filled with particulate material, secured to the curtain bottom edge and enclosed by a flexible envelope member. The curtain bottom edge includes a stiffener formed of interconnected links.

Abstract: A flexible curtain rollup door includes a drum mounted on a door frame and drivenly connected to an electric right angle gear motor unit. The frame includes opposed channel shaped guide tracks for receiving opposed side edges of a door curtain. Spaced apart elastically deflectable combination curtain stiffening struts and windlock members are secured to the curtain and include opposed windlock parts receivable in the guide tracks and configured, respectively, to provide for releasing only one side edge of the curtain from its guide track. A flexible transverse bottom bar includes plural side by side flexible bags filled with particulate material, secured to the curtain bottom edge and enclosed by a flexible envelope member. The curtain bottom edge includes a stiffener formed of interconnected links.

Abstract: A flexible curtain rollup door includes a drum mounted on a door frame and drivenly connected to an electric right angle gear motor unit. The frame includes opposed channel shaped guide tracks for receiving opposed side edges of a door curtain. Spaced apart elastically deflectable combination curtain stiffening struts and windlock members are secured to the curtain and include opposed windlock parts receivable in the guide tracks and configured, respectively, to provide for releasing only one side edge of the curtain from its guide track. A flexible transverse bottom bar includes plural side by side flexible bags filled with particulate material, secured to the curtain bottom edge and enclosed by a flexible envelope member. The curtain bottom edge includes a stiffener formed of interconnected links.

Abstract: A roll-up door assembly for a variety of uses for example commercial vehicles, commercial buildings, residential buildings or other suitable purposes. The door assembly includes a flexible unitary panel constructed from a material comprising a fiber and resin composite. A plurality of transverse support bars are affixed to the flexible panel. Rollers are rotably mounted on an axle and are adapted to be received in a track for guided movement of the flexible panel. The axle can be integral with the transverse reinforcement member or part of a roller bracket affixed to the transverse reinforcement member. Alternately, the flexible panel can be provided without rollers and can be received in and guided by a slotted track.

Abstract: Guidance device for guiding a flexible curtain in an opening, the guidance device including a first guideway for mounting to a jam of the opening. The first guideway includes at least two straps defining a space therebetween, at least one of the two straps being stretched between at least two points on the jam. A second guideway is mounted to another jam of the opening, the second guideway comprising at least two straps defining a space therebetween. At least one of the two straps being stretched between at least two points on the jam, wherein the first and second guideways are adapted to flexibly guide the flexible curtain within the opening.

Abstract: A process for producing roller blinds includes defining a plurality of shapes for the completed roller blind in a continuous material band. The band has a uniform width and edges of the roller blind are defined between the longitudinal edges of the material band. Separating strips are defined in the material band between adjacent edges of the devices. The individual devices are removed from the continuous material band by separating the material band along the separating strips.

Abstract: A strong, flexible and vandalism-resistant panel is provided. The panel has a flexible interwoven skeleton structure that is embedded in a layer of polymer material. The skeleton structure is formed from a generally parallel arrangement of linear cross-members interconnecting adjacent links. The links are in the form of a triangular wave pattern and include a plurality of link elements interconnected at their opposed ends or peaks by alternately spaced transverse curves or folds. The linear cross-members are nested in the transverse curves of adjacent links to join the adjacent links. The panel of the present invention is particularly useful as a panel used to cover the space between two adjacent railroad car sections. The formed panels are flexible, cannot be dented, are substantially cut-proof, and are highly vandalism-resistant.

Abstract: Resilient, contoured members for use in suspension seats and automobile interior door panels include first and second fabric panels joined together along respective perimeters thereof and along spaced-apart intermediate portions thereof to form one or more sets of internal passageways. Each internal passageway is filled with a resilient material such as polyurethane foam. The first and second fabric panels are formed from sets of flat-woven fibers.

Abstract: A trackless roll-up door covering to contain materials within, and prevent animals from entering, a building or enclosure having a large door opening. In one embodiment of the invention an open weave vinyl coated polyester moisture resistant quick drying fabric material is fixedly weighted at a first end and fixedly attached to a tubular assembly at a second end. The tubular assembly is rotated by rotatable drive member, such as a motor, hand crank, spring loaded mechanism, which extends the fabric when operated in a first direction and retracts the fabric when operated in a second direction. Strapping members are used to secure the fabric material when it is extended to loosely close cover the door opening. Additional strapping members are optionally used to further secure the fabric material and prevent bowing in the center of the extended material.

Abstract: A film for blinds may be located either in front of a window pane in the conventional configuration or in the space between the panes in the case of a window with multiple glazing in order to provide decoration or shade. The film for blinds has creases which, due to their flexural moment, form a wave profile in the section of the blind that has been unwound, while they form a specific cross-section in the section that has been wound up. The blind winds up neatly and evenly with the layers exactly on top of each other, even when there are many layers and small winding diameters are involved.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for windlocking a curtain over an opening in a building is disclosed and claimed. The windlocking curtain can reside to the exterior or to the interior of the window, door or other opening and protects it from the intrusion of air, water or debris. In its upper position the windlocking curtain permits normal use of the opening and in its lower position it secures the opening. A flexible corrugated curtain has tension rods therethrough and the tension rods run in tracks on each side of the curtain and necessarily on each side of the opening. Interengagement of the tension rods with the tracks is accomplished by deformations in the rods that are referred to as interrupts. In one embodiment the rods are successively longer from top to bottom of the curtain and their interrupts matingly wedge with angled tracks to secure the curtain. In another embodiment the interrupts matingly engage parallel tracks upon the application of force due to wind, fluid (usually water or sea water) or debris.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for windlocking a curtain over an opening in a building is disclosed and claimed. The windlocking curtain resides to the exterior of the window, door or other opening and protects it from the intrusion of air, water or debris. In its upper position the windlocking curtain permits normal use of the opening and in its lower position it secures the opening. A flexible corrugated curtain has tension rods therethrough and the tension rods run in tracks on each side of the curtain and necessarily on each side of the opening. Interengagement of the tension rods with the tracks is accomplished by deformations in the rods that are referred to as interrupts. In one embodiment the rods are successively longer from top to bottom of the curtain and their interrupts matingly wedge with angled tracks to secure the curtain. In another embodiment the interrupts matingly engage parallel tracks upon the application of force due to wind, fluid (usually water or sea water) or debris.

Abstract: A storm protection system for openings such as windows which include an upper housing, mountable on the upper or lower, in some applications, edge of the window, the housing accommodating a reinforced fabric shade being substantially the width of the window, on a roller within the housing so that the shade may be pulled from a first storage position within the housing to a second down position so that it would completely cover the window opening. There is further provided a plurality of spaced apart pockets formed within the fabric shade, and extending along its entire length, each of the pockets accommodating a length of a tubular member such as a section of PVC pipe, which would slidably engage within the pockets to form a plurality of reinforced members along the length of the shade as the shade is pulled downward.

Abstract: A roman shade fold forming batten including retaining means (1) to receive and releasably retain a fold of material (8) formed tansversely in a length of material; and suspension mounting means (7) located at one or more predetermined locations on the retaining means to receive suspension means (9).

Abstract: A tandem windbar system for a flexible curtain rollup door includes a first windbar adapted to be guided in opposed guide channels of a door assembly and supported by flexible strap members which are secured at one end to a rotatable drum for rolling a flexible curtain closure member onto and off of the drum to open and close the door. Opposite ends of the strap members are secured to stationary structure, such as the upper ends of opposed guide channels for the door curtain and the first windbar. A second windbar is supported below the first windbar by opposed flexible straps which are operably connected at one end to the first windbar by a bearing tube member which may rotate relative to and is supported on the first windbar. The straps of the second set are trained around and support the second windbar and are connected at their opposite ends to the curtain drum for rolling onto and off of the drum. The second windbar ascends and descends at 1.

Abstract: A rolling barrier including a curtain formed of fabric or other material that rolls onto and off of a tube preferably disposed above a doorway or opening to, respectively, block and unblock the opening, the edges of the curtain are received within guideways disposed laterally of the curtain, and which guide the curtain edges to maintain the curtain in a planar orientation during travel; barricade members extending across the curtain (and thus the opening when the barrier is in the closed or blocking position) have their ends disposed in the guideways as well to reinforce the curtain and prevent personnel or objects from passing through the opening at least when the barrier is in the closed position. The barrier may also include a detector for detecting when the door is in or at least approaching the fully closed position and coupled to other electronics to control or regulate operation of the enclosed machine.

Abstract: An external screening mechanism for a pivotable skylight window comprises a web of a screening material which is wound on a spring-biased roller and is connected with a bottom bar which is guided in side guide rails and connected via a cord drive with an unrolling drive unit. The side guide rails for the bottom bar run along the parts of the frame side portions situated above the axis of rotation and the parts of the sash side portions situated below the axis of rotation, and an essentially rod-shaped support arrangement is attached to and extends across the screening web and is led in the side guide rails so that, in a position of use for the screening mechanism, it is positioned at or close to the axis of rotation in parallel therewith. The device may be provided with an arrangement for retightening and smoothing the web in the fully drawn position and during rewinding.

Abstract: A device for connecting the flexible curtain of a door and its hauling straps having a mechanism connected to a proximately located horizontal reinforcing bar and with a retention mechanism such as a ring for the retaining the hauling strap. The distance between the horizontal reinforcing bar and the ring varies in association with the location of the bar on the curtain.

Abstract: A curtain guiding assembly for an industrial door is disclosed. The curtain guiding assembly is provided with a resilient member disposed adjacent the leading edge of a door curtain. The resilient member is substantially untensioned when no external force is applied to the door curtain and is adapted to at least partially conform to or at least partially deflect about encountered obstacles. The resilient member becomes tensioned upon application of an external force less than a first predetermined threshold and returns to its substantially untensioned state upon removal of the external force.

Abstract: A strong, flexible and vandalism-resistant panel is provided. The panel includes a flexible wire skeleton structure such as a chain link structure embedded in a layer of polymer material such as rubber, synthetic rubber or another suitable polymer material. The chain link structure is made from parallel flat helical link sections connected by curved cross-sections. The panel of the present invention is particularly useful as a curtain for a roll-up door or for panels used to cover the space disposed between two adjacent railroad car sections. The formed panels are flexible, cannot be dented, are substantially cut-proof and are highly vandalism-resistant.

Abstract: A rolling screen comprises a screen case, a take-up shaft arranged rotatably about a central axis thereof within the screen case, and a screen wound on said take-up shaft so that the screen can be wound out of said screen case. The take-up shaft is normally biased in a screen-winding direction by a torsion spring. An outer peripheral surface of the screen wound on the take-up shaft is always maintained in contact with an inner wall of the screen case, said inner wall being located in a direction of winding-out of the screen, by pulling force applied to the screen upon extension of the screen or resilient force of a pressing spring when the screen is wound out or wound in.

Abstract: A door opening screening system that is suitable for screening large garage door openings and that includes two retractable screen assemblies that are deployed across the garage door opening and that are secured together to form a screen across the garage door opening. The door opening screening system also includes at least one screen assembly trackway section that is attachable above a doorway opening and that includes a resilient U-shaped trackway guide member that forms a screen guide channel sized to receive and hold a top edge of a screen assembly.

Abstract: A washable window shade in which all non-washable components are readily removable. The washable window shade includes a main shade member made of a decorative, washable fabric such as silk, cotton, or a natural or synthetic blend. Stiffener members provided on the main shade member to maintain it flat are either removable or provided in a washable form. A drawstring assembly for raising and lowering the main shade member is also removable, as is a rigid bottom member. All removable parts can be conveniently removed before washing and conveniently re-assembled after washing, all without the use of tools.

Abstract: A roll-up type industrial door including a flexible vinyl sheet forming a curtain for closing a door way having an upper end, a lower end and two opposite side edges. The sheet has a thin main area and elongate side edge sections that are thicker than the main area. A sloping shoulder is formed where each side edge section meets the main area. A curtain winding mechanism is connected to the upper end of the curtain and is used to raise the curtain. A pair of spaced apart guide channels are also provided and the side edge sections are movable therein. Friction reducing, wear resistant fabric strips are bonded to both of the side edge sections and extend therealong. These strips cover the sloping shoulders and are bonded thereto. The strips reduce the amount of friction between the side edge sections and their respective guide channels. Preferably the strips are made of one ply polyester monofilament.

Abstract: A storable screen assembly wherein a first and second vertical post have a screen extending therebetween, each of the posts having a vertically extending channel therein and a slot in facing side walls to receive the screen, the flexible screen having a guiding element secured to each of the side marginal edges which fit through the slots and remain within the vertically extending channels, the guiding element having a C-shaped portion which remains within the channel, the guide element being of a flexible resilient material.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting and folding a sheet of material used as a window covering, having a headrail for attaching the apparatus adjacent to a window, a pair of spaced apart straps extending vertically from the headrail, a plurality of rods extending horizontally between the straps which are operative for affixing the sheet of material to the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a first plurality of clips for attaching the sheet of fabric material to the rods. Each of the clips is adapted for coupling the rods to the straps at a plurality of vertically spaced apart locations along the straps to provide a plurality of folds in the sheet of material. A second plurality of clips are also provided for attaching the sheet of material to the ends of the rods while the first plurality of clips are used for attaching the sheet of material at locations remote from the ends of said rods.

Abstract: A woven fabric for use as a shade in a roller blind which is rolled and unrolled, the woven fabric including a continuous flexible woven sheet. The sheet includes a plurality of bands extending across the sheet in a transverse direction and integrally woven therewith. Each band includes a front ply having an inner surface and an outer surface which forms part of the front surface of the sheet, and a rear ply having an inner surface and an outer surface which forms part of the rear surface of the sheet, the outer surface of the rear ply being provided with at least one opening disposed proximate at least one of the side edges and adapted to allow the insertion of a rod therethrough. The front and rear plies are spaced apart from each other to form a pocket between their respective inner surfaces, the pocket being adapted to accommodate the rod. A pair of transverse cords, integrally woven with the rear ply, are disposed in the center of the outer surface of the rear ply.

Abstract: A folding blind rod for a folding blind to be arranged in hose-like, horizontally extending webs of a folding blind, wherein the folding blind rod has several separating points, particularly intended breaking points, provided along the length of the folding blind rod. A tongue-like extension is integrally connected to one end of the folding blind rod. The tongue-like extension has a pin extending transversely of the axis of the folding blind rod. A bore each having an axis extending transversely of the axis of the folding blind rod is provided laterally of each separating point and also at the other end of the folding blind rod. The cross-sections of the bores and pins are constructed so as to correspond to each other.

Abstract: In a roller blind for a front window of a motor vehicle, reinforcements are provided in order to reinforce the lateral border regions of a roller blind for a window of a motor vehicle. The end is provided with a thin reinforcement strip which runs transversely with respect to the movement direction of the roller-blind web is attached to the roller-blind web over the entire width thereof, and has a strip end which projects in a freely pivotable manner from the roller-blind web along a hinge axis which extends transversely over the width of the roller-blind web.

Abstract: A flexible roll-up door assembly includes opposed, elongated frame members supporting guides for longitudinal side edges of the door and for slide members connectable to a bottom beam of the door closure member by a latch mechanism which includes opposed latch members which engage the slide members, respectively. The slide members rotate to permit the latch members to separate in response to a predetermined force acting on the door closure or the bottom beam. The latch members are spring biased to retract out of or extend into cooperating slots in the slide members and may be reinserted in the slide members to reconnect the door to the guides. The latch members may include retaining projections cooperable with reentrant edges or other surfaces in the slots to retain the latch members engaged with the slide members. Alternate embodiments include latch members formed on the slide members and engaged in slots formed in a transverse bottom beam for the door closure member.

Abstract: A foldable cargo cover comprising a pliable sheet having a plurality of elongate stiffener members attached thereto at selected locations thereon. The stiffener members are of sufficient rigidity to maintain the sheet in a substantially planar configuration when fully unfolded, and bendable for allowing the sheet to be folded into a compact configuration.

Abstract: A door assembly includes an articulated door with rollers mounted along its edge portions and guide and support tracks for securing the door to a wall with an opening that the door closes. The assembly also includes bracket members for supporting the door when a load displaces the door a predetermined distance in a direction generally perpendicularly to the face of the door when the door lies in a closed position.

Abstract: A convertible top bow comprises an elongated U-shaped metal channel defining a trough bounded by a pair of spaced side walls interconnected at their bottom ends by a bottom wall. An elongated plastic tacking strip has a generally-trapezoidal main body received in the channel. The main body has an upper tacking surface for receiving staples to secure a fabric top to the bow. The tacking strip is secured to the channel by deforming the upper ends of the channel side walls inwardly to clinch the tacking strip body beneath the wings. The tacking strip has a pair of upwardly convex curved wings extending from the depressed upper tacking surface up and over the upper edges of the channel sides. This isolates the channel tops from engagement with the fabric cover and provides bearing surfaces for the fabric cover as it moves over the bow during top movement.

Abstract: A fast-opening and fast-closing goods-handling door for allowing vehicles to pass therethrough includes a foldable or rollable flexible curtain, the edges of which are guided in respective slideways, and which are retained therein by means of retaining carriages guided by rails received in the slideways. According to one aspect of the goods-handling door, the carriages are able to leave the rails. The goods-handling door is further characterized in that it includes a coupling device for coupling the curtain to the carriages, and at least one stress-distribution device for distributing the stresses exerted on the edges of the curtain by the carriages when the door is subjected to detrimental forces.

Abstract: A roller window shade (roller window blind) comprising:(a) a roller; and(b) a shade (blind) secured thereto for being rolled up onto, and rolled down from, the roller, the shade carrying a clear, undistorted, high definition imprint selected from a photograph, picture, icon, logo, trade mark, cartoon character or scene, applied on the face of the shade material, the shade comprising non-stretchable material to make the window shade (blind) non-stretchable.

Abstract: A raisable goods-handling door of the type includes a flexible curtain capable of being wound up or of being folded up in the top portion of the door, said curtain being reinforced by at least one reinforcing or loading bar, the door being wherein the bar is made up of two half-bars that are disposed at the same level on the two faces of the curtain and, clamping provided so that the two edges of each half-bar are pressed against the curtain in sealed manner, thereby preventing dust or dirt from penetrating between either half-bar and the corresponding face of the curtain.

Abstract: A shutter assembly has a plurality of laths which extend between a pair of vertically extending side channels disposed to either side of a doorway, window or the like. A number of the laths are strengthened and are hollow box sections through which a pair of wire cables extend. The wire cables are anchored to retention members which can move vertically in the side channels. The remaining laths have windlocks at their ends which are located in and are moveable in the side channels. The wire strengthened laths are alternately interlaced with the remaining laths. The wire cables give additional strength to the strengthened laths and are sufficiently strong to withstand a heavy blow to the shutter assembly in the vicinity of the strengthened laths, extending with the blow and thereby absorbing energy rather than breaking.

Abstract: A closing element for rooms, such as buildings, containers, superstructures of vehicles or the like, which can be rolled up and covers a two-dimensional area. The closing element is of a flexible material which can be rolled up and is reinforced transversely of its rolling direction by bending-resistant reinforcement layers which increase the transverse stiffness and which are embedded on both sides of a core zone within the closing element. At least the core zone of the closing element is of a shifting-resistant material of middle-soft formulation of approximately 70-85 shore A, and/or textile and/or metal flakes or fibers are mixed into the material of the core zone.

Abstract: A retention system for operable flexible shades. The system includes a flexible sheet of a size which substantially covers a wall opening, and which is connected at its top edge to an operable roller. A side casing having a channel is mounted at each side edge of the wall opening. A plurality of generally parallel stays is applied to one of the opposing surfaces of the sheet for providing rigidity to the sheet, and to assist in keeping the edges of the sheet within the channels when a positive pressure is applied to the sheet. A grommet sized to remain within a channel during the rolling and unrolling of the sheet is affixed at each end of at least some of the stays.

Abstract: A goods-handling door having a retractable curtain includes a flexible curtain that is rollable or foldable by use of a rotary winding shaft. In the door, the curtain is provided, on at least one face, with at least one flexible strip extending perpendicular to the shaft and forming excess thickness on the curtain. When the curtain is rolled or folded in its retracted position, the separation strip rolls or folds onto itself to hold the layers of the curtain apart from one another.

Abstract: A goods-handling door having a raisable curtain for closing a door-bay, the door including two rigid side uprights disposed on either side of the door-bay, each upright including a slideway, the door further including a curtain disposed between the uprights, the vertical edges of the curtain sliding in respective ones of the slideways, each upright including a rigid web that faces said door-bay, each slideway including a vertical slot formed through said rigid web, said vertical slot being delimited by two edges, wherein each slideway further includes a flexible draft-proofing cloth interconnecting its two edges over substantially the entire height of the slot, thereby delimiting a vertical pocket on its side opposite from the door-bay, which pocket is designed to receive an edge of the curtain, said edge bearing flexibly against the bottom of the pocket, which bottom has sufficient clearance to absorb movements and deformations of the edge of the curtain.

Abstract: Apparatus for gripping lengths of sheet material as exemplified by fabric for formation of a foldable blind, shade, curtain, partition or the like. Tubular members having longitudinal openings therein are provided which accept the sheet material through the grooves. Rod members also fit within the tubular members, thereby holding the sheet material between the tubular members and the rod members. Guide means are provided to guide pull cords, the guide means engaging a longitudinal groove in each tubular member.

Abstract: A vertically-opening door installation which is exposed to cold on one side includes a vertically-opening flexible curtain (6) and two risers to guide the respective side edges of the curtain. Each riser includes a lining (12) made of a material which is a poor conductor of heat and which lines the inside of the channel section bar, and at least one longitudinally-extending cavity (14) providing a cushion of air between the outside surface of the channel section bar and the inside surface of its lining. The inside surface of lining (12) is smooth. At least one of the longitudinally-extending cavities (14) may include electrical heater resistance (15) or similar heating devices. The riser is provided to prevent frost and ice from forming around the side edges of the curtain of a goods-handling door which is exposed to the cold.

Abstract: A lifting curtain industrial door including a flexible curtain capable of being gathered together at the top of the door by being rolled up or folded, and of being lowered in a plane between two vertical side uprights each including a slideway, each slideway having a guide wall on either side of the plane of the curtain, the curtain having lateral portions which slide in said slideways, said lateral portions being adapted to escape from the slideways in the event of an abnormal transverse force, wherein the wall of the upright including the slideway includes at least one moving wall element capable of deforming elastically so as to form a path enabling a lateral portion of the curtain to pass from the outside to the inside of the slideway, but not in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A vertically-raisable door for industrial use includes a curtain 4 reinforced by bars 5 whose ends are guided in slideways, each comprising a web 7 and two guide walls 8, 9. The width of each slideway is reduced at its bottom end by a filler component 20 received inside the slideway against the web and a guide wall. The filler component has a clearance surface 23 facing the bay, and a ramp comprising an upper guide surface 21 and a placement surface 24 facing the opposite guide wall. The clearance surface slopes from the bottom towards the web of the slideway at an angle lying in the range about 1.degree. to about 10.degree., and preferably in the range 2.degree. to 5.degree., such that the horizontal distance between the clearance surfaces of the two facing slideways increases going upwards.

Abstract: A goods-handling door of the type comprising a raisable curtain constituted by a flexible curtain having horizontal reinforcing bars disposed at regular intervals, e.g. a roll-up door or a raisable door that folds concertina-like, wherein the lowermost bar is flexible and lighter than the other bars.

Abstract: A sliding skid for the end of a reinforcing bar of a curtain of a raisable-curtain industrial door of the type comprising a curtain and a rigid door frame including two vertical lateral uprights disposed on either side of the door, forming or containing slideways, and interconnected at their top ends by a horizontal cross-member, said curtain being capable of being lowered or raised between the uprights to be collected together at the top of the door, and being reinforced by equidistant horizontal reinforcing bars, the edges of the curtain and the ends of the reinforcing bars sliding in the slideways, the bars being disposed in sheaths formed by localized double thicknesses of the curtain, wherein the skid is generally semi-cylindrical in shape, having fixing means for fixing to the curtain, and having a radial finger at one of its ends for being engaged through a slot in the sheath of the curtain to limit displacement of a reinforcing bar whose end may come into abutment against said finger.

Abstract: In summary, the present invention contemplates an improved tarpaulin deployment and retraction apparatus which includes a plurality of removable or permanent tracks installed at intervals over the load carrying compartment of a vehicle. A leading edge slider travels to and fro on the tracks under the influence of deployment/retraction mechanism. A ridgepole slider is towed to a mid-deployment position due to a latch on the ridgepole slider engaging a towing pin on the leading edge slider. Upon reaching the mid-deployment position, a de-coupling pin upon each of the tracks cooperates with a camming surface on the latch to disengage the ridgepole slider from the leading edge slider. The leading edge slider then is further urged to a fully deployed position. A leading edge pole, to which is attached the leading edge of a tarpaulin, is connected to the leading edge sliders on the tracks. As the sliders are urged into their deployed positions the tarpaulin is unfurled from its stowed position.

Abstract: A lifting curtain door comprising a frame constituted by two vertical side uprights interconnected at their top ends by a cross member, the side uprights each constituting or including a slideway, each slideway having a guide wall on either side of the plane of the curtain, which curtain may be gathered together at the top of the door by being rolled up or folded, the curtain being reinforced by horizontal bars whose ends slide in the slideways. At least one of the bars has sufficient flexibility at least one portion of its length to enable it to escape from at least one of the slideways in the event of an abnormal transverse force being applied to the bar, without the bar being deformed permanently which could impede subsequent operation of the curtain.