Abstract: A vehicle window shade arrangement for at least partially shading the windshield of a vehicle, such as an automobile, having a dash with an upper surface and an elongated opening in the surface extending along the width of the windshield, the window shade arrangement comprising a shade rolled about a shade tube rotatably mounted below the upper surface of the dash; a shade extender-retractor for selectively unrolling the shade from the shade tube to an extended position at least partially shading the windshield, and rolling the shade about the shade tube to a retracted position not shading the windshield; and left and right elongated side supports disposed adjacent left and right sides, respectively, of the windshield. The shade is supported and concealed by the left and right side supports when not retracted. The shade extender-retractor may comprise a manual or powered drive arrangement for driving the shade to the extended and retracted positions.

Abstract: A roller shutter arrangement, more especially for obliquely arranged roller shutter areas comprising a roller shutter element running in lateral guide rails and adapted to be wound and unwound on and from a take-up shaft arranged at one end of the roller shutter area. At least one elastic draw cable is provided engaging the free end part of the roller shutter element, and this draw cable is stretched on winding up the roller shutter element on the take-up shaft and on unwinding provides an elastic force aiding the unwinding operation. This means that automatic unwinding of the roller shutter element is possible in a simple and economic manner even if there is an insufficient or no action of gravity.

Abstract: A shade control assembly cooperates with one edge of a shade mounted to a rigid bar for urging the shade into an extended use position from a roller. The control includes constant tension coil springs on opposite sides of the cross member for uniformly controlling opposite edges of the shade in its motion. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the springs are mounted within slotted guide channels and a guide member in each of the channels is slidably coupled to the cross member. In a preferred embodiment, the shade is retracted against the tension of the springs by a drive motor which rotates the roller thereby winding the shade upon itself for storage. In such embodiment to extend the shade, the motor is driven in a reverse direction, allowing the springs to unroll the free end of the shade from the roller, extending it for use.

Abstract: A vehicle window shade assembly protects the interior of a vehicle from sun damage and excessive heat. The shade assembly includes a flexible protective screen adapted for substantially covering a window of the vehicle. An elongated roller carries the screen and includes an internal winding mechanism for automatically moving the screen from an extended in-use position to a retracted storage position around the roller. A mounting assembly is provided for mounting the roller proximate a first edge of the vehicle window. A pull cord is attached to an end of the screen and is adapted for extending from the first edge of the vehicle window to an opposing second edge of the vehicle window with the screen in the retracted storage position. An attachment clip is mounted to the vehicle proximate the second edge of the vehicle window for holding the pull cord.

Abstract: A cover for a motor-vehicle storage space has a winder fixed at an inner end of the space and a cover sheet secured in the winder, having an outer edge, and displaceable between a position wound up at the winder and a position extending from the winder above the space with its free edge at an opposite outer end of the space. A pair of like spaced apart guides flank the space and each extend from the inner end to the outer end. Respective entrainment elements are displaceable along the guides between the inner and outer ends and are each connected to the outer edge. Respective drive motors are connected to the entrainment elements for displacing the entrainment elements outward from the inner end to the outer end and inward from the outer end to the inner end. At least one of the motors is of variable speed.

Abstract: An operating arrangement for an electrically operated window screening device of the type comprising a flexible screening body (1) which is rolled up on a roller (2) positioned in or at an upper horizontal main frame or sash member of the window and in a free end is connected with a bottom rail (4) extending the width of the window. The operating arrangement comprises a cord or string-formed pull-element (12, 13; 24) acting on the screening body and being wound on a winding device (11; 22, 23) positioned at a lower main frame or sash member, with an accompanying electrical drive motor (9).

Abstract: A curtain bottom tensioning assembly comprised primarily of a resilient member extending across the bottom of the door. The resilient member is directly or indirectly coupled to a guide extension extending beyond the leading edge of the door and engaging vertical guide members to guide the door in a vertical plane. The guide extensions also engage the vertical guide members to restrict the guide extensions from moving horizontally toward the curtain. The coupling between these horizontally restricted guide extensions and the resilient member places a tension on the resilient member. The resilient member is thus stretched across the bottom of the door or curtain, and serves as a bottom bar that also substantially conforms to or deflects around an obstruction, thus preventing or minimizing damage to the door, the bottom bar and the obstruction.

Abstract: Electromechanical or manually operable vertical-moving roller curtains for windows which consist of a curtain made of thin and flexible material, wrapped around a self-winding upper roller and a lower edge fastened to a rigid horizontal crossbar. The crossbar is connected by vertical worm screw linkages to sliders. The worm screws and sliders have a matching thread meshing for driving connection therebetween. A geared motor or a crank drives the worm screws through a drive shaft and through bevel gear pairs. A surrounding hollowed frame consists of vertical and horizontal section bars, connected by linkage so that when the motor or crank is driven a rotation is imparted to the worm screws which, via sliders, vertically move the lower edge of the curtain upwards or downwards, thereby winding and unwinding the curtain on the upper roller.

Abstract: A motorized sun screen for covering a vehicle window has a base unit and a screen unit which includes a lower horizontal rod mounted rotatably on the base unit, an upper horizontal shaft and a screen with a bottom edge connected to the horizontal rod and a top edge connected to the horizontal shaft. Each of a pair of pivot arms has a lower end portion mounted pivotally on the base unit and an upper end portion slidably engaging the horizontal shaft. An extension spring has two ends connected respectively to the lower end portion of the pivot arms. A drive unit is mounted on the base unit and includes a motor with a rotatable drive shaft which is coupled to one end of the horizontal rod. The motor is operable in a first mode, wherein the motor permits the extension spring to contract, thereby causing the pivot arms to pivot away from each other to move the horizontal shaft upwardly and stretch the screen.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a window cover including a window surrounded by a frame. Further provided is a window cover adapted to have a first orientation wherein the window cover shrouds the window and a second orientation wherein the window cover does not shroud the window. The window covering has a conventional elongated control mechanism with a first end connected to the window covering and a second end for allowing a user to transfer the window covering from the first orientation to the second orientation thereof and visa-versa. Finally, a control mechanism redirecting mechanism is included for allowing the second end of the control mechanism to be utilized distant the window while maintaining a portion of the control mechanism adjacent the first end thereof stationary.

Abstract: An overhead door including a door panel vertically movable between a lowered position when the door is closed and a raised position when the door is open, and a motor drivingly connected to a lower end of the door panel to selectively drive the lower end of the door panel downwardly. The motor is drivingly connected to the lower end of the door panel to drive the door panel downwardly in response to actuation of the motor. Preferably, the connection includes a flexible drive element (e.g., an endless belt) driven by the motor and connected to the lower end of the door panel. A pivot member releasably connects the door panel to the guide member, and is pivotable relative to at least one of the door panel or the guide member in response to a force on the door panel. The pivot member includes a first pivot segment pivotally connected to the door panel and a second pivot segment pivotally connected to the guide member, the first and second pivot segments releasably engaging each other.

Abstract: An improved roll-up closure utilizing a flexible cover or curtain selected from a material suitable to effect the type of closure sought. The cover is at least as wide as the portal to be covered and is typically longer than the portal. Each lateral margin of the cover has a strip of hook and loop fastener material affixed thereto, and a complementary strip is affixed to the lateral margins of the structure defining the portal. A first end of the cover is rigidly affixed across a first margin of the portal. The opposite end of the cover is upturned and connected to a driven take-up roller mounted to the first margin of the portal. An elongated transverse rod is supported within the upturned end of the cover. Activation of the driven roller lengthens or shortens the effective length of the cover and moves the rod therewith. As the driven roller is activated, the mating hook and loop fasteners are positioned to seal and unseal the cover to the lateral margins of the portal.

Abstract: A tension and release mechanism for use on a tension belt, including a first bearing member around which the tension belt passes and which is mounted on a support member. A bias member is coupled to the support member to exert a force on the support member tending to tension the belt. Engagement member is mountable adjacent the support member and is movable to a position wherein it exerts a force on the support member to move the support member to a tension-release position. A latch is also included for latching the support member in the tension release position.

Abstract: A tensioning assembly for use on a roller door, the roller door including a curtain windable on a roller for selectively blocking and unblocking a doorway above a floor surface, the tensioning assembly including: a drum attached to the roller for rotation therewith, a pulley disposed adjacent to the floor and also adjacent to a vertical edge of the curtain in the doorway blocking position; and a resilient member having a first end connected to the drum and a second end attached to a leading edge of the curtain, the resilient member passes around the pulley intermediate its first and second ends, and the resilient member is windable on the drum in an opposite sense to the winding of the curtain on the roller, the drum and resilient member are dimensioned relative to the roller and curtain to maintain a proportional stretch on the belt for all vertical positions of the curtain, thereby maintaining the curtain under tension at all times.

Abstract: An electrical sunshade assembly includes a tubular mounting unit adapted to be secured in an automobile adjacent to a window of the latter and formed with a longitudinally extending slot. A pinion is disposed rotatably in the mounting unit and is driven to rotate in opposite first and second directions. Two racks are disposed movably in the mounting unit on two sides of the pinion. Each rack meshes with the pinion and has a connecting end portion. Rotation of the pinion in the first direction causes the connecting end portions of the racks to move away from each other, while rotation of the pinion in the second direction causes the connecting end portions to move toward each other. A screen unit is located adjacent to the slot of the mounting unit and includes a sun screen and an axially rotatable roller which is biased to wind the sun screen normally thereon.

Abstract: An omni-directional breakaway guide assembly for use in conjunction with a bottom member in a roll-up door. The guide assembly comprises a guide extension for engaging vertical guide members to guide the door in a vertical plane, and a bottom member portion coupled to the bottom member. The breakaway guide assembly includes a magnetic coupling between the guide extension and the bottom member portion. Upon application of a sufficient force on the bottom member the magnetic coupling is overcome and the bottom member and attached bottom member portion breakaway from the guide extension. Such breakaway may occur for forces applied in a variety of directions to the bottom member.

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: Apparatus for separably connecting a movable barrier to a means for guiding the barrier is disclosed. The connection separates upon a transbarrier impact in excess of a predetermined magnitude. To this end a lateral connecting member (22) extends between the barrier (12) and the guide means (18) and includes opposed first and second ends (22a and 22b). The first end (22a) being attached to the guide 18 and the second end 22b has opposed upper and lower surfaces 46, 48 arcuate portions 46a, 46b, 48a and 48b. A receptacle 24 is attached to the movable barrier 12 and is adapted to receive the second end 22b of the lateral connecting member 22. The receptacle 24 has facing upper and lower inner surfaces 42, 44.

Abstract: A curtain winding apparatus including a blind, a winding mechanism containing a drive motor in a winding pipe, and a drawing mechanism for drawing the blind by stretching an arm, wherein a torsion coil spring is provided for energizing the leading end portion of the arm of the drawing mechanism in the direction substantially perpendicular to the curtain surface. A cylindrical portion is formed on the base end portion of the blind, and the winding pipe is inserted in the cylindrical portion. A pressing pipe C-shaped in cross-section is fitted around the outer periphery of the winding pipe by way of the cylindrical portion so that the cylindrical portion is held between the pressing pipe and the winding pipe. The leading end side of the curtain is thus drawn from the slit of the pressing pipe. With this winding apparatus, it becomes possible to easily adjust the mounting angle of the drawing mechanism and to prevent the leakage of operational noise of the drive motor.

Abstract: The present invention provides temporary protection of outside objects from wind, rain, snow, or other elements. In particular, the present invention is a system of supports and fabric or plastic panels that are erected to provide a continuous protective covering over an area, structure, or object. The components of the system may be assembled in various configurations as the situation demands. The system requires minimal labor to install and the covering can be readily raised and lowered as desired.

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 sun filtering and shading device for autos has a rod, a pair of elastic elements on two ends of the rod, a pair of gapped pipes fixed besides the door pillar, a pair of T-shaped sliders connected to the pair of elastic elements and a pair of string winders installed on the lower end of the gapped pipes. There are two strings which are connected to the T-shaped sliders and the string winders. Each of the T-shaped sliders are housed inside each of the gapped pipes and the curtain can be raised or lowered using the string winders.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an all weather, mechanically reciprocatable, roll top cover apparatus for conveniently and reliably covering and uncovering the open top side of receptacles and the like. The apparatus consists of a support structure mounted at the open top side of the receptacle for supporting a flexible cover and of two primary operating drive devices. The cover is divided into two sloping panels by the support structure to facilitate precipitation removal and to maximize volumetric capacity of the receptacle. The operating drive devices include an uncovering drive device for removing the cover and a covering drive device for replacing the cover. In particular, the cover has one edge fixed at one side wall of the receptacle, while the opposing edge is free to travel between the opposing side walls. The uncovering drive device includes a shaft mounted to the cover centrally. To remove the cover, the shaft is rotated toward the cover's fixed edge to wind the cover on the shaft.

Abstract: A driving and tensioning device for a flexible protective member such as a strip, curtain or skirt includes a rolling-up driving-shaft and an unrolling driving-shaft which are driven by electric motors provided with a brake activated in order not to brake any longer when one of these motors is under power. This driving and tensioning device furthermore includes a device for controlling the power supply to the motors so that a torque is generated by one of the motors withstanding the operation of the other motor, during the phase of either unrolling or rolling-up of the flexible protective member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for effecting the opening and closing movements of a foldable, pleated shade for aircraft windows comprises the utilization of a single cord which has its ends oppositely mounted on two coaxial reels driven by a reversible electric motor. The energization of the motor in one direction effects the winding of the cord on one reel and the concurrent unwinding of the cord on the other reel. The intermediate portions of the cord are trained by suitable pulleys to form a vertical loop having the opposite sides of the loop disposed in parallel with the path of movement of the shade. A transverse operating member for the shade is then connected to one of the oppositely moving sides of the cord loop to effect the shifting of the shade from an open to a dosed position, or vice-versa.

Abstract: A screen device includes a pair of parallel side frames, a take-up shaft mounted between ends of the side frames, and a screen wound around the take-up shaft and having a bar secured to its free end. The side frames have guide grooves formed in their opposing sides. The bar has both ends thereof received in the grooves in the side frames. Wires having their leading ends connected to the bar are taken up by a wire take-up drum. A constant force spring urges the wire take-up drum to rotate in such a direction that each wire is wound around the wire take-up drum, thereby applying tension to the screen.

Abstract: A roll-up door has a bottom bar attached to the flexible curtain of the door. The bottom bar has transverse openings at each end adjacent to the jambs of the door frame. A breakaway shaft travels in a track in each jamb and has one end normally seated in a respective transverse opening by the interaction of spring loaded ball detents and detent recesses in the shaft and bar. The opposite ends of the shafts are connected to a counterforce mechanism that urges the shaft downwardly and are also connected to a strap wound with the curtain drum to urge the shafts upwardly against the counterforce. The breakaway shafts will separate from the bar upon impact to free the bar from engagement with the jamb and prevent damage to the door. The breakaway shafts may then be reconnected with the bottom bar and reset by unwinding the curtain to an overtravel position that is beyond the normal closed position of the door.

Abstract: A roll-up door has a bottom bar attached to the flexible curtain of the door. The bottom bar has transverse openings at each end adjacent to the jambs of the door frame. A breakaway shaft travels in a track in each jamb and has one end normally seated in a respective transverse opening by the interaction of spring loaded ball detents and detent recesses in the shaft and bar. The opposite ends of the shafts are connected to a counterforce mechanism that urges the shaft downwardly and are also connected to a strap wound with the curtain drum to urge the shafts upwardly against the counterforce. The breakaway shafts will separate from the bar upon impact to free the bar from engagement with the jamb and prevent damage to the door. The breakaway shafts may then be reconnected with the bottom bar and reset by unwinding the curtain to an overtravel position that is beyond the normal closed position of the door.

Abstract: A window covering including first and second sheer fabrics interconnected by a plurality of transversely extending vanes is disclosed. The sheer fabrics are connected to circumferentially spaced apart fixing elements on a wind up roll which is mounted with its longitudinal axis extending generally horizontally to one side of a frame of a skylight. Associated with the wind up roll at each end are cord reels and a control pulley at one end of a respective cord reel. Rotation of the wind up roll is effected by operation of a cord wrapped around the control pulley. Wrapped around the cord reels are tension cords which pass around fixed pulleys and are connected to opposite ends of an end rail having in its interior a tension spring to the end of which are attached the ends of the tension cords. Two parallel tracks extending generally perpendicular to the wind up roll is provided for guiding the end rail.

Abstract: A pulling device, which serves preferably to pull in and out a cloth or blind of a window blind assembly, has a pulling cable. Opposite ends of the cable are mounted at the bottom ends of guide rails that are arranged on opposite sides of the cloth. From such attached ends, the cable is guided over deflecting rollers in a hollow member and is wound at least once therein around two rollers that are forced apart by a spring element, in particular a gas pressure spring. The hollow member has at opposite ends thereof respective sliding elements that guide the hollow member along the guide rails. The hollow member is attached to the end of the cloth that is to be moved. The entire length of the cloth can be pulled outwardly uniformly by the pulling device.

Abstract: An overhead roll door includes a breakaway guide follower having a first part attached to a raising and lowering mechanism and a second part attached to the door. The first part defines a pivotable latch plate having a slot therein, and the second part of the guide follower defines a pin received in the slot. A detent mechanism resists rotation of the latch plate out of a retaining position, in which the first and second retaining elements are held together, to a release position, in which the second retaining element is allowed to move transversely with respect to the first retaining element to allow the door to breakaway in response to an impact.

Abstract: An industrial roll-up door, having a releasable beam and a tension bracket retention mechanism. The door includes a flexible door panel, which is wound in coiled form on a drum, and an elongated beam is attached to the lower end of the door panel. The ends of the beam are releasably connected to brackets that can be movable in vertical guide tracks mounted along the sides of the doorway. A biasing mechanism attached to each bracket exerts a downward tensioning force on the door panel when in the closed position. A pair of belts each having the same thickness as the door panel are wound on the drum adjacent the side edges of the door panel, and the free end of each belt is connected to the respective bracket.

Abstract: In a roller shade for an opening such as a rear windshield of an automobile, when the shade is full closed, the pull rod is intentionally bent so as to fully conform to the peripheral edge of the opening. The bending of the pull rod can be achieved either by an axial force which may be produced by gradually reducing the distance between a pair of guide members extending on either lateral side of the opening as the pull rod moves up or by a lateral force which may be produced by placing a slope on which the pull rod rides over as it reaches its final position for fully covering the opening. By controlling the bent shape of the pull rod in a suitable manner, it is possible to entirely cover the opening without leaving any uncovered gap.

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 covering apparatus, for a receptacle having an open top, including a cover having a first end and a second end and a length and width sufficient to cover the open top, a spring loaded roller, rotatably mounted at one end of the receptacle, and to which the first end of the cover is attached, the roller being adapted for retracting and winding the cover about the roller, a cable having a first end and a second end, the first end of the cable attached to said second end of the cover and adapted for unwinding said cover from the roller, a cable spool, rotatably mounted at one end of the receptacle and attached to which is the second end of the cable, the cable spool being adapted for spooling and unspooling the cable, and an energizing means for causing the cable spool to rotate.

Abstract: An automotive window screen control device, has a motor-driven winding device to hoist a screen on a telescopic tube above a tube holder, and a screen holder fastened in the tube holder above a base, onto which the winding device is supported, to hold the screen, wherein the screen holder has tenons alternatively inserted in two paralleled lines of holes on the tube holder for adjusting the angular position of the screen.

Abstract: A rolling door assembly including a flexible curtain having an inner end, an outer end and side edges. The inner end of this curtain is mounted to a rotatable curtain roll. The assembly includes a sprocket mounted on the curtain roll and a continuous chain loop that extends around this sprocket and is connected to a motor drive to form a curtain winding and unwinding mechanism. Two drive loop members are in operable engagement with the curtain roll for purposes of loop travel during rotation of the roll. The bottom end of the curtain is secured to the two drive members so that the bottom end and the drive loop members travel together. There are also two adjusting mechanisms connected between the bottom end of the curtain and the two loop members to accommodate a difference in speed of travel between the loop members and the bottom end of the curtain, the latter moving at a variable speed as the curtain is wound or unwound.

Abstract: A covering apparatus for a receptacle having an open top including, a cover having a first end and a second end and a length and width sufficient to cover the open top of the receptacle, a spring loaded roller, rotatably mounted at one end of the receptacle and to which the first end of the cover is attached, the roller being adapted for retracting and winding the cover about said roller, a pair of first cable pulleys, one of each of the first cable pulleys rotatably mounted at one end of the receptacle, a pair of second cable pulleys, one of each of the second cable pulleys rotatably mounted at the other end of the receptacle, a cable loop engaging the first cable pulley and the second cable pulley, the second end of said cover attached to the cable loop, and an energizing device for causing the pair of first cable pulleys to rotate so as to cause the cable loop to move about the first and said second cable pulleys.

Abstract: A roller door assembly has means for tensioning same wherein a load is applied to a bottom edge of the roller and means for counterbalancing the weight of the door wherein a load is applied to the roller, the loads exerted by both said means being dependent on the amount of door off the roller.

Abstract: A roll-up door in which the bottom bar is attached to the flexible door curtain has a transverse opening at an end adjacent to a jamb of the frame of the door. A breakaway shaft travels in a track in the jamb and has one end that normally seats in the transverse opening and provides a link between the bottom bar and the jamb. The other end of the shaft is restrained so that the shaft is held in a generally horizontal attitude. The opening in the bar and the breakaway shaft have cooperating means to normally retain the shaft in the opening but which are releasable upon a force striking the curtain or bottom bar. The breakaway shaft will separate from the bar upon impact thereby freeing the bar from engagement withthe jamb and preventing damage. The breakaway shaft may thereafter be reinserted into the opening in the bar to reconnect the bottom bar to the track and permit continued operation of the door.

Abstract: A rolling or overhead door assembly is disclosed comprising a shaft having an external thread bounded by a first and second bearing surface, a hub screwingly engaging the shaft and adapted to travel along the shaft, a first sprocket rotatably mounted on the first bearing surface and operably connected with a take-down device for unrolling a flexible door and a second sprocket mounted on the second bearing surface and operably connected with a take-up roller for rolling up the door, and abutments on opposite sides of the first and second sprocket. Upon rotation of the shaft the hub advances along the shaft and frictionally engages the first sprocket until the first sprocket and shaft rotate together and upon counter rotation of the shaft the hub advances back along the shaft and frictionally engages the second sprocket until the second sprocket and shaft rotate together.

Abstract: An industrial door includes a door panel that is movable between an open position and a closed position where the door panel encloses a doorway. A flexible beam is attached to the lower edge of the door panel and the beam is composed of superimposed strips of resilient material, such as rubber, with flexible metal strips disposed between adjacent resilient strips. Each end of the beam is provided with a longitudinal open-ended slot and an extension of a guide member is mounted within each slot in a manner such that the extensions will freely slide in the slots in a direction parallel to the plane of the door panel and will be released from the slots if the beam is subjected to a substantial accidental impact.

Abstract: A roll-up door for enclosing the doorway in a building. The door comprises a horizontal rotatable drum mounted above the doorway and a flexible door panel is wound on the drum. A pulley is secured to each end of the drum and the first ends of a pair of belts are secured to each pulley and the belts are wound in overlapping relation on pulley so that adjacent convolutions of each belt are separated by convolutions of the other belt. The free end of one belt is dead-ended on the frame, and a counterbalancing weight is attached to the belt intermediate its ends and exerts a counterbalancing force to wind the door panel on the drum. The free end of the second belt is connected to the lower end of the door panel and a pair of springs are connected to the second belt intermediate its ends and the springs exert a tensioning force to stretch the door panel when the door panel is in the closed position.

Abstract: A Venetian blind for inside installation in a window in an inclined roof comprises profile lists fastened to the side pieces of the sash for guiding at least the lower list of the shade, whereby a load acting on the lower list of the Venetian blind to pull it towards its lowered position, is provided by at least one coil spring. The coiled part of the spring is seated in a housing at one end of the lower list with its axis of rotation essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lower list, and the uncoiled part runs in one of the profile lists and is fastened at the lower end of this list near the lower edge of the window.

Abstract: A shade unit having a frame defining a skylight opening, to which is attached a motor assembly and a shade assembly. A control unit consisting of an open stop switch, a close stop switch controls the motor assembly with a relay switch charging the motors polarity. A wall switch controls the relay switch and a photoelectric switch which can also control the relay switch.

Abstract: A manually operated roll door. The door comprises a flexible door panel that is coiled on a drum located above the header of a doorway in a building, and the door panel is manually movable between an open position where the door panel is coiled on the drum, to a closed position where it encloses the doorway. A latch mechanism is associated with the door panel and automatically latches the door panel in the closed position. A handle is attached to the lower end of the door panel and the handle is connected to the latch mechanism in a manner such that an upward pull on the handle to open the door panel will simultaneously release the latch mechanism. A counterbalancing weight is operably connected to the door panel and partially counterbalances the weight of the door panel to aid in manually moving the door panel to the open position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for covering open truck beds so as to prevent material being carried in the bed from flying out during transport including the equipping of a truck with a specially designed roll up tarpaulin, engaging the rolled up tarpaulin with a specially designed telescoping hook arrangement, pulling the tarpaulin on its rolled up position by guide members resting upon the edge of the sides of the truck bed, and fastening said tarpaulin to the end of the truck bed in such manner that it drapes within the sides of the truck bed so as to completely prevent inadvertent discharge of material.

Abstract: A roll-up door for enclosing a doorway in a building. The door comprises a horizontal rotatable drum mounted above the doorway and a flexible door panel is wound on the drum. A pair of first pulleys are secured to opposite ends of the drum and one end of a flat belt is secured to each first pulley, while the opposite end of each belt is dead-ended on a fixed object. A counterbalancing weight is attached to the belt intermediate its ends and exerts a counterbalancing force to wind door panel on the drum. A pair of second pulleys are secured to opposite ends of the drum and located adjacent the first pulleys. One end of a second flat belt is secured to each second pulley, while the opposite end of each second belt is connected to the lower end of the door panel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatically operated opening and closing roof composed of a sheet or tarpaulin; a frame constituting the whole rim of the roof; a drum supported rotatably on the frame and holding an end of the sheet whereby allowing it to roll out and roll up the sheet; a slider holding the other end of the sheet and slidably supported by a guide rail which is mounted on the frame for allowing the slides to move toward and away from the drum; and an actuator mounted on the frame for driving the slider and/or the drum along the guide rail whereby covering over the frame with the sheet or uncovering the frame. A rain sensor for detecting rain, snow and other wetness; and a controller for switching the actuator on when a signal reaches it from the rain sensor are used for covering the sheet over the frame, and counter-switching the actuator when a reverse signal reaches the controller when the rain stops, thus uncovering the sheet from the frame.

Abstract: A motorized roller blind comprises a housing in which at least one roller member is rotatably mounted, and a strip of material forming the blind member which is fixed to the roller member at one end and to a pull bar at the other end. Actuating means comprise first and second links each having a first end pivotally fixed to the pull bar in the vicinity of a respective end thereof, and a second end pivotally fixed to a coupling member which is itself fixed to a respective end of a rack drive member adapted to be displaced by a drive pinion drive by a motor.