Abstract: A multi-panel system includes a drive panel coupled to an actuator and a follower panel coupled to the drive panel via a first latch rotatably coupled to the follower panel. The drive panel and the follower panel translate along a guide rail configured with a latch keeper at a latch position. The drive panel and follower panel are initially stored substantially superposed to each other. Upon translating the drive panel toward a final position, the first latch is configured to couple the first follower panel to the drive panel when the drive panel is translated from the stored position, and 1) couple to the first latch keeper, and 2) uncouple the first follower panel from the drive panel when the first follower panel has translated to the first latch position.

Abstract: A vehicle door system includes a door with a door module and a hinge module. The hinge module is attached to the vehicle body. The door module is attached to the hinge module. The hinge module includes a hinge bracket attached to the vehicle body, and a pair of arms extending from the hinge bracket that can pivot relative to the hinge bracket and a cross brace attached at the ends of the arms. The door module attaches to the cross brace. The door module moves along with the cross brace, which moves along with the arms as they pivot relative to the hinge bracket. The door module includes a latch mechanism at a bottom edge, with the latch mechanism engaging with the vehicle body. A lateral edge of the door may seal against a lateral edge of the second door without a latch interface.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to a storage container and storage container lid configured for stowage and extraction of panels, the panels having complementary mating interfaces that cause the panels to stack onto one another as the panels enter the storage container lid, and to couple to one another as the panels are extracted from the storage container lid. In an illustrative example, the mating interface for the panels may include a first linearly decreasing section, a linearly increasing section, and a second linearly decreasing section that complements the mating interface of an adjacent panel. The panels may slide along a channel into and out of an opening in the storage container lid. A panel storage system may advantageously store panels in the lid of the storage container, while still providing access to the contents of the storage container by opening of the lid.

Abstract: A vehicle device for protecting passengers from being thrown out is disposed at an inner side of a window of a vehicle. The vehicle device includes two rail units disposed at two opposing sides of the window and a block unit disposed between the rail units. The block unit is connected with a drive unit. The drive unit is connected with a control unit. When the control unit detects that the vehicle is about to roll, the control unit will actuate the drive unit to drive the block unit so that the block unit is rapidly unfolded to block the entire window. Thereby, when the vehicle is rolling, the vehicle device can effectively protect the passengers from being thrown out of the vehicle, improving the safety of the vehicle greatly.

Abstract: A cover includes multiple panels pivotally connected together and foldable between a stacked arrangement and a deployed arrangement. Side rails are attachable to opposite sides of the cargo box and include ledges. Storage extension guides intersects the ledges. The panels are supportable upon the ledges in the deployed arrangement to cover the cargo box. The stack is supportable upon the first and second ledges in an intermediate position adjacent the storage extension guides. The stack is movable along the guides between the intermediate position and a storage position in which the forward edge of the lowermost panel is oriented below the rear edge of the lowermost panel.

Abstract: An acoustic panel assembly may have one or more panels adaptable for reflecting sound waves and a support member to which the one or more panels may be attached. The support member may be extendable and retractable. The one or more panels and the support member may be collapsible into a housing. The one or more panels may be configured in one or more substantially planar portions, one or more substantially curved portions, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A security device and method for a garage door opening system mounted within the dwelling, for preventing an unauthorized access to the garage door opening system from outside of the garage and mechanically disconnecting the carriage assembly of the system from the remaining part of the system by pulling the release cord toward the garage door.

Abstract: A blind display comprises a frame; a display opening in the frame; a series of display panel supporting members; and a series of display panels supported by the series of display panel supporting members. At least some of the display panels from the series of display panels are adapted to receive a display sample adapted to display a blind sample. At least some of the display panels from the series of display panels are displaceably, e.g. slidably mounted to the series of display panel supporting members and being visible through the display opening. A method for displaying blind samples and a kit are equally disclosed.

Abstract: A continuous web of flexible plastic strips, for use in a flexible strip door system, the continuous web of flexible plastic strips having uninterrupted cuts, of a depth less than the thickness of the web, arranged along lines which are perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of the web. Remaining material of the web, which is located below each cut, provides sufficient strength along the length of the web to prevent severing during routine handling, but allows for manual tearing of the web along the cuts when the web is subjected to opposing forces perpendicular to upper and lower faces of the web on either side of the cut.

Abstract: A security bar assembly has a plurality of bars that extend across an opening and have ends joined to drive chains. The bars may extend between two channels positioned on opposite faces of the opening, and may be slidable within the channels. The ends of the bars may be retained in the channels and the ends may have connections to chain links in opposing drive chains which are spaced apart a predetermined number of links to keep the bars a predetermined distance apart. A drive mechanism may be provided for moving the drive chains to slide the bars in the channels and a storage area adjacent the opening associated with the channels to retain the bars when they are not in place over the opening. The channels may each enclose a drive mechanism for independently moving the bar ends in each channel. In such embodiments, the drive mechanisms in the channels may be independently driven respectively by first and second motors. The first and second motors may be synchronized by a non-mechanical communication link.

Abstract: A security bar assembly has a plurality of bars that extend across an opening and have ends joined to drive chains. The bars may extend between two channels positioned on opposite faces of the opening, and may be slidable within the channels. The ends of the bars may be retained in the channels and the ends may have connections to chain links in opposing drive chains which are spaced apart a predetermined number of links to keep the bars a predetermined distance apart. A drive mechanism may be provided for moving the drive chains to slide the bars in the channels and a storage area adjacent the opening associated with the channels to retain the bars when they are not in place over the opening. Transfer mechanisms are provided for moving the security bars between a stored position and a position in which the bars engage the bar drive chain.

Abstract: A headrail for a double shade has a modular construction in which a portion of the headrail holds a roller shade and a second portion holds a pleated shade and the two portions are separable from one another. In one embodiment the portion that supports the pleated shade is configured to hold a conventional headrail of a pleated shade. In another embodiment a front assembly supports a pleated shade and contains a base and a curved front wall attached to and extending over the base. A semicircular wall extends between end caps that hold a roller shade. The semicircular wall has a slot that receives a tab on the front wall of the front assembly. A bracket has a top leg with a hook that engages a tab on the semicircular wall and a shoulder on a side leg that carries the rear edge of the semicircular wall. A spring extends from the side leg of the bracket to the front wall retaining the tab on the front wall within the hook on rear wall.

Abstract: An antibandit shutter comprising a closed frame made up of a lower housing (1), an upper head (3) and two side mullions (2) defining a space which can be opened or closed wherein said opening or closing is effected by a plurality of elongate slats adapted (4) to move from a retracted position within the confines of said lower housing to an expanded and raised position substantially closing off said space wherein said slats are guided along the mullions of said frame by a raising means comprising a plurality of crossed first and second lever arms in the form of a lazy tongs mechanism wherein said first lever arms are formed by the edges of said slats and said second lever arms are formed from slave levers (7).

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides an endless loop lock including a drive wheel adapted to be driven or not driven. An endless loop may be provided, engaging the drive wheel and adapted to be driven by the drive wheel to move a device, such as a security bar, connected to the endless loop. A guide may be provided, biased against the endless loop at a position spaced apart from the drive wheel. A lock may be provided, for engaging the endless loop to inhibit movement of the endless loop, the guide being positioned to bias the endless loop out of engagement with the lock when the endless loop is driven by the drive wheel. The lock may be actuated by a force applied to the device connected to the endless loop when the drive wheel is not driven.

Abstract: A security bar assembly has a plurality of bars that extend across an opening and have ends joined to drive chains. The bars may extend between two channels positioned on opposite faces of the opening, and may be slidable within the channels. The ends of the bars may be retained in the channels and the ends may have connections to chain links in opposing drive chains which are spaced apart a predetermined number of links to keep the bars a predetermined distance apart. A drive mechanism may be provided for moving the drive chains to slide the bars in the channels and a storage area adjacent the opening associated with the channels to retain the bars when they are not in place over the opening. Transfer mechanisms are provided for moving the security bars between a stored position and a position in which the bars engage the bar drive chain.

Abstract: A security bar assembly has a plurality of bars that extend across an opening and have ends joined to drive chains. The bars may extend between two channels positioned on opposite faces of the opening, and may be slidable within the channels. The ends of the bars may be retained in the channels and the ends may have connections to chain links in opposing drive chains which are spaced apart a predetermined number of links to keep the bars a predetermined distance apart. A drive mechanism may be provided for moving the drive chains to slide the bars in the channels and a storage area adjacent the opening associated with the channels to retain the bars when they are not in place over the opening. The channels may each enclose a drive mechanism for independently moving the bar ends in each channel. In such embodiments, the drive mechanisms in the channels may be independently driven respectively by first and second motors. The first and second motors may be synchronised by a non-mechanical communication link.

Abstract: At least three stacked panels are articulated by means of adjacent members so that they can pivot toward a deployed configuration. A mechanism includes an immobilizer mounted on a first member, cooperating with a second member to lock the two panels in the deployed configuration and constrained to rotate with a lug which can rotate on the first member and is abutted against a surface of a member constrained to rotate with the second member and configured so that, when the deployed configuration is reached, the lug escapes from it and brings the immobilizer into contact with the second member to bring about locking. A first finger of the mechanism, which is constrained to rotate with the lug, cooperates with a second finger of the third panel to hold it stacked until the two panels reach the deployed configuration, at which time rotation of the lug releases the second finger.

Abstract: An aperture, covering including track-guided interconnectable panels that are compactly stored in a storage area containing weight counterbalancing mechanisms, such as a compressed spring, is described. When the panels are stacked in the storage area and removed one at a time, the first panel is removed from the storage area and enters the track. As the first panel moves through the track, it interlocks with the second panel and forces the second panel out of the storage area and into the track. Interlocking and removal of the panels continues until all of the panels are removed or the first panel reaches the end of the track. Weight counterbalancing can be assisted by track-contained mating mechanisms, cable and ball drive mechanisms, or other counterbalancing methods. The resulting aperture covering requires minimal storage space for the open aperture position, minimizes exposure to potentially hazardous counterbalancing mechanisms, and allows for heavy-weight panel construction.

Abstract: A security bar assembly has a plurality of bars that extend across an opening and have ends joined to drive chains. The bars may extend between two channels positioned on opposite faces of the opening, and may be slidable within the channels. The ends of the bars may be retained in the channels and the ends may have connections to chain links in opposing drive chains which are spaced apart a predetermined number of links to keep the bars a predetermined distance apart. A drive mechanism may be provided for moving the drive chains to slide the bars in the channels and a storage area adjacent the opening associated with the channels to retain the bars when they are not in place over the opening. Transfer mechanisms are provided for moving the security bars between a stored position and a position in which the bars engage the bar drive chain.

Abstract: A headrail for a double shade has a modular construction in which a portion of the headrail holds a roller shade and a second portion holds a pleated shade and the two portions are separable from one another. In one embodiment the portion that supports the pleated shade is configured to hold a conventional headrail of a pleated shade. In another embodiment a front assembly supports a pleated shade and contains a base and a curved front wall attached to and extending over the base. A semicircular wall extends between end caps that hold a roller shade. The semicircular wall has a slot that receives a tab on the front wall of the front assembly. A bracket has a top leg with a hook that engages a tab on the semicircular wall and a shoulder on a side leg that carries the rear edge of the semicircular wall. A spring extends from the side leg of the bracket to the front wall retaining the tab on the front wall within the hook on rear wall.

Abstract: A awning device for attachment to mobile homes, recreational vehicles and the like. The awning device includes a frame. The frame comprises a top bar, a pair of side bars and a bottom bar. Each of the side bars defines a guide member. Each of the side bars has a first end is integrally coupled to the top bar. The bottom bar is elongate and extends between and is integrally coupled to the second ends of the side bars such that the frame generally has a rectangular shape. Each of a plurality of slats is removably positioned in the top bar such that each of the slats is slidably movable along the side bars. The slats are selectively positionable between an extended position and a retracted position.

Abstract: A shutter box for a door having a leaf includes a top cover, and an angle section bar having an outward and upward leading wall portion and a substantially vertical portion extending to the top cover. The leading wall portion is connected directly to the vertical portion and forms an oblique angle therebetween. The shutter box is assembled utilizing exclusively engageable snaps and attachable to the door by engageable snaps, with the leading wall portion of the angle section bar arranged substantially parallel to an obliquely extending portion of the leaf of the door, when the door is in a closed state.

Abstract: A security bar assembly has a plurality of bars that extend across an opening and have ends joined to drive chains to provide an easily removable assembly. The bars extend between two channels positioned on opposite faces of the opening, and are slidable within the channels. The ends of the bars are retained in the channels and the ends have connections to chain links in opposing drive chains which are spaced apart a predetermined number of links to keep the bars a predetermined distance apart. A drive mechanism is provided for moving the drive chains to slide the bars in the channels and a storage area adjacent the opening associated with the channels to retain the bars when they are not in place over the opening.

Abstract: A slat for a shutter includes an elongated slat body with a longitudinal slot unit formed therethrough, and an elongated lens fixed within the slot unit so as to close the slot unit and so as to permit light from one side of the shutter to reach the other side of the utter via the slot unit and the lens.

Abstract: A reversible shutter includes slats mounted between lateral guides and includes at the ends of the slats sliding elements which run through the lateral guides and through connected labyrinthian guides located within a shutter box. Each labyrinthian guide includes an inlet and an outlet which are connected to the respective lateral guide. During rolling and unrolling of the slatted shutter, the front face and the back face of the slats are exposed, making it possible to clean both faces of the slatted shutter from one side.

Abstract: A closure system includes a plurality of closure panels adapted to be moved between deployed and stowed positions. All on a pair of carrier tracks on opposite side of a building opening. The actuator in the deployed position have abutting top and bottom edges and parallel side surface that span across the building opening. The actuators in the stowed position have abutting in inner and outer side surfaces in parallel top edges and parallel bottom edges. The top and bottom edges maintain their top and bottom orientation as their closure panels transition between the deployed an stowed positions.

Abstract: Roll-down shutter with a rotating, self-locking winding shaft with coilable shutter armor made of linked interconnected shutter elements, whereby the top-most shutter element is attached to the winding shaft. In order to make an unauthorized separation of the shutters from the winding shaft practically impossible, the top-most shutter element is bound closed-shape with the winding shaft.

Abstract: The design of sliding shutter boxes for sliding shutters on windows, door openings and the like requires in most cases the off site assembly of the entire mounting. Furthermore, such sliding shutter boxes are often very large and heavy and thus unnecessarily burden the building. The invention therefore provides to use a self-supporting housing of sheet-metal parts, which can be preassembled and can be installed on site together with the drum needed for rolling up the sliding shutter, the sliding shutter itself and other parts.

Abstract: A curtain installation structure for a vehicle is comprised of a garnish which is installed to cover a pillar of the vehicle. The garnish defines a curtain receiving section at a side end portion of a window. A cover member is hingedly connected to the garnish to close the curtain receiving section. A curtain of the window is slidably connected to a curtain rail which is attached to an upper side of the window and whose end portion extends near the garnish. When the curtain is not in use, it is received in the curtain receiving section under a folded condition, and the curtain receiving section is closed by the cover member.

Abstract: A rolling shutter for a roof or wall window includes an apron, a shaft for rolling up and unrolling the apron, and two spaced lateral supports fixed with respect to the window for rotatably supporting the shaft. Two parallel side parts are rotatably supported in the two supports for rotation about an axis extending parallel to the shaft. The two side parts include guides for guiding the apron in rolling-up and unrolling movements thereof. The guides have rear extensions facing the shaft. An upper trim extends between the two side parts and is connected thereto for covering the apron from above. The rear extensions of the guides are spaced in all rotational positions of the two parts, from the shaft axis a distance substantially corresponding to a maximum radius of the shaft. The guides and the shaft define a space such that the apron can move freely therein without being damaged.

Abstract: A panel shutter device constructed in such a way that in the process of continuously moving each panel by a lifting shift along guides rails and a lateral shift along a housing rail, a guide rotary member engages or disengages a guide shaft projecting from the side of the panel opposite the driven side. At the time of descending of the shutter curtain, in order to prevent finger pinching as each panel is placed on the succeeding panels sequentially, each panel can be lifted or descended without causing a gap between panels of the shutter curtain by providing the support member suspended by a pivotable connecting chain.

Abstract: In a panel shutter assembly including a plurality of shutter panels which are movable up and down along a pair of transversely spaced upstanding guide rails, a pair of chains to which the panels are fastened one after another, a set of sprockets engaging the chains for moving the chains in either direction to move the panels to open and close a shutter opening, and a pair of panel supporting rails from which the panels are suspended in a panel storage space when the shutter opening is opened, the sprockets consist of a pair of first sprockets for moving the panels up and down and a pair of sound sprockets spaced horizontally apart from the first sprockets and provided between the first sprockets and the panel storage space for moving the panels horizontally, and the panel supporting rails extend horizontally. The horizontal supporting rails enable a reduction in height of a box defining the panel storage space.

Abstract: A collapsible sun shade having plural pleated blades consecutively joined in series to form a serrated shape with an upper blade mounted within a hollow housing and a lower blade secured to a plate member. A coiled spring plate is resiliently wound around a spool member which is rotatably mounted within the hollow housing. One end of the coiled spring plate passes through each of the blades and connects to a plate member that is capable of being biasingly retained over the hollow housing by the coiled spring plate when the plurality of blades is folded into the hollow housing in an accordion-like fashion. A brake is mounted in the hollow housing for engaging the spool member and preventing the same from rotating.

Abstract: An improved shade apparatus for the interior of an outdoor conveyance, such as an automobile, boat, airplane, travel trailer, or van comprises a horizontally pleated shade and a mounting and fastening apparatus. The mounting and fastening apparatus facilitates storage of the folded shade and then facilitates positioning and fastening of the shade when opened to its operative position. In an alternative embodiment, the shade may be mounted, stored, and opened from a recessed channel along the dashboard or other horizontal surface near the bottom of the windshield of a conveyance.

Abstract: A rolling shutter for wall or roof openings, especially in connection with a turnable roof window comprises a rolling shutter web composed of a plurality of rolling shutter elements pullable from one another for forming light gaps, a rolling shutter shaft for winding and unwinding of the rolling shutter web, supports for rotatably supporting the rolling shutter web, two parallel side walls connected with the supports for guiding lateral ends of the rolling shutter webs, an actuating device having a mechanism for an opening movement of the rolling shutter web and a pulling device engaging a free front end of the rolling shutter web and supporting or performing its closing movement, the rolling shutter elements including a front rolling shutter element and a rear rolling shutter element, a pulling rope connecting the front rolling shutter element and the rear shutter element, the pulling rope being fixedly connected with the rear rolling shutter element and being connected with the front rolling shutter element

Abstract: The hothouse for cultivation according to the present invention relates especially to a hothouse for cultivation enclosed with transparent members, wherein reflexion plates are provided on the northern side for reflecting the sunlight toward the soil surface inside the hothouse, and also to a hothouse enclosed with transparent members, wherein the hothouse comprises a shutter which can be opened and closed freely, and is switchable between two types of hothouses which are a hothouse composed only of the transparent members and a double hothouse comprising a heat insulation space between the shutter completely closed and the transparent members, so that the heat of the sunlight received by the hothouse for cultivation is most effectively used and kept in the hothouse.

Abstract: A flexible shield panel is movably affixed between two U-shaped tracks and mounted in a jewelry store type glass top display case to protectively cover the jewelry display tray shelf. The U-shaped tracks are installed in the solid end walls of the display case with one longer track section horizontally positioned above the jewelry display tray shelf in close proximity to the shelf and the other longer track section below the display tray shelf. Elliptical discs attached by shafts to the edges of the flexible shield panel fit captively in interfaced lipped grooves which are track channels in the U-shaped track structure. The discs slide in the channel. In some applications, the discs can be sufficiently rounded and axled to turn in the track channel. The flexible shield panel is approximately half as long as the tracks and can be manually pulled along the tracks to an upward position closely covering a display tray of jewelry on the display tray shelf.

Abstract: A vertically movable cantilevering type gate is disclosed. All that is required is an elongated cylinder mounted vertically and a piston rod slidably mounted therein. The piston rod is mounted for vertical movement in the cylinder and suitable laterally spaced vertically movable guides are provided to maintain the gate in alignment with the gate opening. Preferably a channel shaped cap bar is positoned to overlie a trough into which interconnected link members are adapted to fold. The link members support laterally extending mesh type closure members which close the gate opening when the gate is elevated. The gate is controlled by a water pressure operated system. The valves controlling the flow of pressurized water to actuate the gate are controlled electrically. In one desirable construction when no electric power is applied, the valves direct water under pressure to urge the piston rod upwardly in the cylinder to maintain the gate in the obstructing or closed position.

Abstract: A roller blind for skylights, having a roller blind compartment (4) which can be fitted on the upper part of the blind, a winding shaft (6) rotatably mounted in the compartment and a strap drum (8) coaxially connected, for joint rotation, to the winding shaft for a pulling strap (9), has a plurality of strap deflecting elements (10, 11, 12 13) arranged in the roller blind compartment (4), which elements deflect the pulling strap (9), extending from the strap drum (8), with axial strap twisting, firstly substantially parallel to the winding shaft (6), then substantially parallel to the central plane of the strap drum and then substantially perpendicular to the plane of exit of the roller blind toward the window, whence, in the installed position, it runs through a strap opening (3a) in the outer covering of the frame upper piece between the latter and a cover part engaging underneath its outer covering directly to a strap winder, preferable fitted above the window.

Abstract: A roll shutter for roof windows, particularly of the hinged casement-type construction, including a roll shutter draw mechanism having two cords, one end of each of which is attached to the lower end of the roll shutter plating. The ends of the two cords are connected to a common cord which after being guided over stationary diverting elements is guided to a drivable spool. In addition, the roll shutter draw mechanism includes a length compensating device having a diverting element which can slide against the force of an elastic member and over which the two cords are guided in tandem. The length compensating device has at least one additional diverting element which can slide together with the slidable diverting element, and the cords are guided in their path from one slidable diverting element to the next by passing over a stationary diverting element.

Abstract: A cornice for the headrail of a window covering has an elongated front panel with grooves on a front surface for receiving decorative slats and a pair of longitudinal slots on the back surface. Clips hanging on the headrail have parts received within the front panel. Adjustable length side plates are assembled to the front panel by end pieces.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved telescopable cover for truck beds and the like characterized by a transversely-spaced pair of generally channel-shaped tracks opening toward one another and shaped to define a gutter in the bottom thereof alongside a slot separating upper and lower rail-forming surfaces. Mounted in these rails are a plurality of interlocking slot-forming panels, all but the lead panel of which has a downturned flange along its leading edge, a downwardly and rearwardly sloping cam surface adjacent the trailing edge thereof and an upturned flange along the trailing edge positioned and adapted to lock in behind the downturned flange on the leading edge of the panel therebehind so as to form a chain. A continuation of the lower rail slopes downwardly and forwardly to produce a ramp down which the panels slide and stack atop one another as they leave the confines of the upper rail, become separated and enter a storage area.

Abstract: A rolling shutter for being pivotably mounted on a roof window. The rolling shutter is provided with an apron, a shaft on which the apron is wound and from which it is unwound, another shaft for winding and unwinding the apron, a guide located between the two shafts, and a damping element; the damping element serves to maintain the rolling shutter in the position to which it is pivoted. The guide reverses the winding direction of the apron between the two shafts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a roll shutter for hinged casement type roof windows, which includes two guide rails (14) for the roll shutter bars (12), which guide rails (14) run parallel to each other and are connected to the shutter and is provided with a roll shutter activation device which includes a first and a second control cable (40 and 42) as well as a third control cable (50). The first and the second control cables (40 and 42) are led to a connection point (47) and are attached to each other. The connection point (47) is also connected with the third control cable (50) which is guided from a spool (26) on the winding shaft (24) of the roll shutter, through an activation loop (59) accessible to the user and an adjoining buffer loop (43) to the connection point (43). The length of the buffer loop (43) is at least as large as the displacement path of the roll shutter (10) between its completely open and completely closed positions.

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 portable and collapsible radiation shielding device is provided for the protection of personnel and equipment from ionizing radiation. The shield has a plurality of horizontally elongated slats of radiation shielding material, such as lead wool, hung from a plurality of horizontally spaced apart chains at spaced intervals along the length of the chains. The slats are connected to the chains near their top edges so that when they are in their raised state the slats are suspended from the chains and arranged in an overlapping manner, like shingles, and when collapsed arrange themselves neatly side by side in a stack. The device also has a container adapted to receive the shield in its collapsed state, and a hoist and mast for raising and lowering the shield into and out of the container. The container further has wheels for facilitating moving the device to the desired location, and an outrigger for providing stability to the shield when raised.

Abstract: An improved insulating shade device is provided for increasing thermal resistance and minimizing convective drafts at windows. The device includes a multiplicity of insulating members proportioned for covering a section of the window pane. The insulating members in one embodiment are joined by a suitable cover such that abutting edges of adjacent insulating members pivot with respect to each other. The device is mounted by attaching a support unit to the lintel or upper portion of the window frame. This support unit carries the shade and, in this connection, the upper end portion of the shade is joined with the support unit. Means are provided for drawing the shade to its folded position such that it is stored in a compact manner below the support unit.

Abstract: For a modular pickup bed cover system having a plurality of rigid transverse panels which slidingly fit into longitudinal channels fixed along bed side walls, interpanel latching is provided by a transverse, channel-shaped first latching member fixed across rearward ends of all except the rearmost panel and a matching, transverse, angle-shaped second latching member fixed across forward ends of all except the forwardmost panel. Fixed across the rear panel of each panel pair in panel abutment regions is an elastomeric seal. As each pair of panels is latched together, upon installation thereof into the truck bed side channels by pivotally fitting the rearward panel angle member into the forward panel channel member, the seals are compressed a preselected amount assuring weathertight interpanel sealing. Shaped end regions of the latching members cause transverse panel alignment during latching.

Abstract: An adjustable thermal shield adapted for installation upon residences, office buildings, mobile homes, recreational vehicles and other structures or objects having areas such as glass walls, windows and the like, for which enhanced thermal efficiencies are either desired or required. Each shield comprises a panel formed of rigid plastic foam which is encased in a specially prepared fabric to provide a skin-tight cover having an extending flap to provide pivot means between the panel and a like panel or the installation assembly, as the case may be.

Abstract: An extensible partition utilizes a hollow rectangular elongated partition for erection in a generally vertical plane having spring loaded devices extending upwardly and downwardly from the uppermost and lowermost marginal edges thereof, a slot, extending vertically along a vertical marginal edge of the apparatus, communicates to the hollowed out cavity portion of the panel, so as to provide access throughout the length of the cavity, extending substantially for the entire length of the panel. A plurality of arms are utilized having one end of each pivotably secured to individual helically wound spring members. In one embodiment, the other end of the helical springs are pivotably secured to an accordion-like pleated member which, when not in use, is stored within the cavity. When the accordion, pleated-like member is withdrawn the arms are positioned horizontally such that the springs are likewise positioned horizontally when they are tensioned, keeping tensioning forces on the pleated-like flexible member.