Abstract: A system to be utilized on a horizontal surface for providing visual privacy is disclosed. A plurality of base units each having a retractable panel are positioned at desired locations on the surface to define a plurality of intervals. Selected retractable panels can be drawn across selected intervals to form a desired grid system. The base units can be utilized in conjunction with an existing open plan furniture arrangement to provide additional visual privacy or workstations. In specific embodiments of the invention, the location at which the retractable panel is secured to a vertical panel is vertically adjustable, a uniform attachment between differing thicknesses of the flexible material of a retractable panel is maintained and the tension of spring loaded roller upon which the material is coiled is adjustable. The housing containing a retractable panel as well as the corresponding jamb member can be magnetically attached to vertical surfaces defined in an open plan furniture arrangement.

Abstract: A tailgate sealing arrangement for sport utility and other vehicles having a removable, flexible top. The sealing arrangement includes an elongated, rigid member attached to the lower section of the rear portion of the flexible top. The rigid member is removably mounted to extend across the tailgate opening and has a flexible seal depending downwardly from it. The tailgate in the preferred embodiment is mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis and has a horizontally extending, flat, upper surface. In operation and as the tailgate is closed, the depending seal contacts and wipes across the flat, upper surface of the tailgate to form an effective sealing arrangement. All of this is done without having to disturb or otherwise manipulate the top.

Abstract: A lightweight, low cost shower door assembly for enclosing a tub or shower enclosure having sides and a base. It includes an upper support member adapted to be positioned against opposing sides of the enclosure and a lower support member adapted to be positioned against the base of the enclosure. A door in the assembly includes a flexible rod connecting first and second frame members. The first frame member is connected to the upper and lower support members and positioned for movement about a vertical axis. The flexible rod is bowed to apply an upward force on the second frame member in order to maintain it in releasable connection with the upper support member. In use, a section of replaceable fabric or vinyl extends across the frame members in order to provide a water barrier for the door.

Abstract: A self closing dog house door including a pair of sheeting members secured over an opening in a dog house. Each of the sheeting members has an upper edge, a lower edge, an inner edge, and an outer edge. The inner edge of each of the sheeting members has an elongated recess formed therein whereby the elongated recess of the sheeting members is disposed over the opening in the dog house. A pair of flexible plastic doors are secured within the elongated recess of the pair of sheeting members. Each plastic door has a vertically oriented aperture therethrough. A pair of elongated spring mechanisms each is positioned within a vertically oriented aperture of the pair of flexible plastic doors.

Abstract: A pet door kit made of frame sides and door sides all of which may be assembled onto a mesh screen panel before the panel is required to be cut to allow for pivoting of the door. Advantageously each frame side is formed as an integral molding with an associated door side so that the skill of the installer is not required to locate the door within the frame. Economically, the two moldings thus provided are identical and securing members, i.e. pins are integrally provided to pass from one molding, through the mesh, and be force fitted into holes in the other molding. The assembly of the two moldings simultaneously and quickly assembles the door and frame onto the firm unsevered rigid support of the screen panel.

Abstract: A flexible safety screen which is designed for storage in an enclosure located above a doorway and deployment downwardly from the enclosure for tensioned attachment to the floor, in order to protect the occupants in a room from intruders. In a first preferred embodiment the screen is rolled on a shaft journalled for rotation in the housing and deployed by means of an electric motor and gear mechanism and according to a second embodiment of the invention, the screen is alternatively manually rolled on the shaft and deployed from the shaft and housing and tightened after being secured to the floor, by means of a crank and ratchet mechanism. In a most preferred embodiment of the invention the screen is characterized by flexible nylon webbing.

Abstract: A swinging-and-sliding door for vehicles which opens in two mutually perpendicular steps, a first step wherein it bends out of a doorway-closed position and into a ready-to-slide position and a second step wherein it slides aside horizontally into a doorway-open position. The door is mounted with a roller carriage and a horizontal track fastened to the inside of the door essentially halfway up. The roller carriage is mounted in a doorway immediately adjacent to a vertical edge of a doorframe opposite to the leading edge of the door in the closed position and on the same level as the track. The roller carriage travels back and forth in the track and in and out in the same direction as the first door-opening step on a carriage holder. The door is at least to some extent flexible in the direction it moves in during the first door-opening step and is subjected to tension such that the middle of the door will resiliently bend to a prescribed extent in a direction opposite that of the first door-opening step.

Abstract: A rollaway opening closure and more particularly a fabric opening closure adapted to be stored in a reeled or rolled position and to be unrolled from the reel to close the opening. The apparatus includes a roller, a drawbar, a sheet of fabric and at least one pivoted bar link. The axis of the roller, the drawbar and the pivot of the bar link are maintained parallel as the fabric is unrolled from the roller. The drawbar and the bar link are structurally attached. The fabric is attached to the roller and the drawbar but unattached to other elements of the apparatus. A rotational biasing means biases the fabric into rolled position on the roller and causes the fabric to be maintained taught when unrolled and in closing position at an taught when unrolled and in closing position at an opening.

Abstract: A system for providing temporary visual privacy across an interval in a modular open plan furniture arrangement. A horizontally retractable panel is situated at one side of the interval. The retractable panel is provided with means for drawing the panel closed across the interval, and is also provided with means for securing the panel in the closed position. In the preferred form of the invention, the panel comprises a flexible material coiled about a vertically oriented, spring loaded roller lodged within a housing.

Abstract: In general, existing pet doors are unnecessarily complicated and consequently expensive to produce and/or install. The pet door of the present invention overcomes these problems and provides a readily visible indication of whether a pet is inside or outside a house. The pet door disclosed herein includes a pair of simple rectangular frames carrying a flexible flap with a weighted bottom end for overhanging inner and outer ledges on the bottom ends of the frames, inside or outside of the frames depending upon the location of the pet, i.e. a pet moving through the door will push the flap through the frames, the weight returning the flap to a closed position in the frames with the weight against one bottom ledge.

Abstract: An animal gate and a method for using the animal gate are provided for the self-grooming of a pet animal. The animal gate has closure panels made up of contiguous triangular flaps attached in a peripheral frame with their apices convergent at a common central point. Each of the triangular flaps has numerous bristles disposed perpendicular to the plane of each flap. As the animal traverses the animal gate by pushing aside the triangular flaps, the bristles disposed within the flaps engage the animal's fur and groom the fur.

Abstract: A negative pressure method and apparatus for protection from airborne asbestos and other particulate contamination is disclosed, including an enclosure with doorways and decontamination chambers with an air intake through the decontamination chambers with at least one filtration unit flow connected with the enclosure, with a blower to pull air into the filtration unit and dispelling the filtered air to the atmosphere. A high volume air flow intake is maintained with a significant negative air pressure in the enclosure. A filtration device is provided with multiple entrance ports providing for a large flow of air through the body of the room together with individual entrance ports to receive the discharge from separate vacuum cleaners.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for covering and uncovering an opening in the rear of an automobile wherein the apparatus comprises a tailgate pivotally mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and covering or uncovering the lower portion of the opening and a separate flexible member detachably secured to the rear of the automobile to cover or uncover the remaining portion of the opening so that the tailgate may be moved to uncover the lower portion of the opening without moving any portion of the separate flexible member.

Abstract: An aircraft mid-cabin divider comprises a double-bulkhead, a vertical wrapping-post within the double-bulkhead, and a wrap-around door having a series of parallel vertical panels flexibly interconnected wherein the first vertical panel is hingeably secured to the vertical wrapping post and a second vertical panel on the substantially opposite end of the door from the first one includes a handle and latch for directing the movement of the tambour door and latching the same about an opposing edge. To be placed in its stowed or open position, the tambour door is rolled backwards around the vertical wrapping-post and drawn between the double bulkheads. A passageway is provided within one of the double-bulkheads through which the door handle may be traversed while the door is inside of the bulkheads.

Abstract: A panel for securing in a conventional sliding door opening to cooperate with the sliding doors therein has a swinging door flap at the bottom of a panel defined by vertical stiles which may be trimmed to suit varying door frame heights and which may be adjusted in width in one embodiment by breaking away segments of the stiles. The stiles bear fixed projections to fit horizontal apertures at the door stile and sliding projections to fit aperatures in sill and top rail of the frame. The panel has an adjustable rail which overlaps the weather pane of the panel at top or bottom of the pane. The access door flap swings from an intermediate rail which may be a part of a panel or part of a sub-assembly mountable in any opening. The flap has imbedded magnets to arrest it closed and thin wiper edges to seal against weather, and is self-hinging in the intermediate rail. In one embodiment a vertically movable sill in the bottom rail rises to meet the lower edge of the flap in the closed position.

Abstract: A gate or animal access door is disclosed which is assembled in an opening to permit passage of an animal from one room or area to another. The gate comprises two coacting elastic diaphragms or membranes, each of which has gaps to form membrane flaps. The membranes are held around the periphery thereof in a frame or holder in such a manner that as a result of their assembly in the frame the change of shape of the membranes causes them to be pressed together. The method of training the animal to use such gate contemplates employing in succession training membranes each having a progressively smaller central opening, inclusive of a membrane essentially devoid of any central opening, to thereby condition the animal to pass through the gate when it is ultimately assembled in the opening.

Abstract: A pet access door kit and method of installation in a screen door. The kit includes members attachable to the door screen to define a generally rectangular screen section adjacent a lower corner of the screen door. The screen material is cut within the defined area except for the upper extremity of the section, to form a screen flap, the upper extremity of the flap constituting a hinge portion. A suitable weight is attachable to the lower extremity of the flap to maintain it in closed position.

Abstract: A flexible transparent door is provided for attachment to the entry opening of a helicopter or other vehicle. This door has a semi-permanent attachment effected by means of Velcro or any comparable hook and pile material distributed about the outer periphery of the door and secondarily held by means of accordion rivets. Hinges are also provided at this outer periphery for insertion into a slide mount permanently affixed to the helicopter. A zipper is provided spaced from the outer periphery and in circumferential relation to a clear vinyl window provided on the door. In normal use, the zipper is actuated to open the door for ingress and egress. In emergency situations, quick removal of the door from the body of the vehicle may be effected by separation of the Velcro and accordion rivets which bind the door to the vehicle. In this manner, the entire door will pivot upon the hinge provided and an emergency exit will be available.

Abstract: A panel for securing in a conventional sliding door opening to cooperate with the sliding doors therein has a swinging door flap at the bottom of a panel defined by vertical stiles which may be trimmed to suit varying door frame heights. The stiles bear fixed projections to fit horizontal apertures at the door stile and sliding projections to fit apertures in sill and top rail of the frame. The panel has an adjustable rail which overlaps the weather pane of the panel at top or bottom of the pane. The access door flaps swings from an intermediate rail which may be a part of a panel or a part of a sub-assembly mountable in any opening. The flap has imbedded magnets to arrest it closed and thin wiper edges to seal against weather, and is self-hinging in the intermediate rail.

Abstract: A decontamination system in combination with a work space maintained at subambient pressure. An inner vestibule is connected to the work space via a first portal, which can be selectively opened and closed by a first door. A middle vestibule, in which at least one shower bath is installed, is connected to the inner vestibule only via a second portal, which can be selectively closed by a second door or opened. An outer vestibule is connected to the middle vestibule only via a third portal, which can be selectively opened and closed by a third door, and to an ambient space only via a fourth portal, which can be selectively opened or closed by a fourth door. Each door is a rigid door. Except for the third door, which seals the third portal when the third portal is closed by the third door, each door has fixed louvers allowing small quantities of air to infiltrate.