WO2000025641A1

WO2000025641A1 - Retractable storm shade system

Info

Publication number: WO2000025641A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/026272
Authority: WO
Inventors: Douglas M. Gottschalk
Original assignee: Gottschalk Douglas M
Priority date: 1998-11-05
Filing date: 1999-11-05
Publication date: 2000-05-11
Also published as: US6286579B1; AU1471200A

Abstract

A storm protection system for openings such as windows which include an upper housing (20) mountable on the upper edge of the window (12), the housing accommodating a reinforced fabric shade (36) being substantially the width of the window, on a roller (40) within the housing (20) so that the shade may be pulled from a first storage position within the housing to a second down position so that it would completely cover the window opening. There is further provided a plurality of spaced apart pockets (70) formed within the fabric shade (36), and extending along its entire length, each of the pockets accommodating a length of a tubular member such as a section of PVC pipe (72), which would slidably engage within the pockets to form a plurality of reinforced members. There is further provided a plurality of raised members (50) mountable on the window sill each spaced apart an equal distance as the spaced apart pockets and adapted to engage the ends of the PVC pipe (72).

Description

PATENT APPLICATION TITLE OF THE INVENTION "Retractable Storm Shade System" INVENTOR(S): Douglas Gottschalk

5 CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Priority of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/186,563, filed 1 1/05/98, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT o Not applicable

REFERENCE TO A "MICROFICHE APPENDIX"

Not applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention 5 The system of the present invention relates to storm protection systems for windows. More particularly, the present invention relates to a reinforced retractable shade mounted above openings such as windows in a building for extending down to cover the window and including reinforcement members for protecting the window against storm related damage. 0 2. General Background of the Invention

In areas of the country or world which are prone to storms, there is a need for protecting the openings of buildings such as windows and doors and other means of access. Often times such openings are covered with breakable glass, and during a storm when a loose object, such as a tree limb or the like, 5 is blown into the glass covering the opening, there is a danger that people within the building will be injured or killed by the flying glass. For example, the states along the Gulf of Mexico, during certain times of the year, are prone to enormous and deadly storms known as hurricanes. Hurricanes often have winds which blow between an average of 100 to 125 miles per hour, and in 0 doing so, are able to blow foreign objects such as street signs, tree limbs and other types of debris into the windows of buildings, more particularly to individual homes within cities and towns affected by the storm. At the present, there are some systems on the market which may allow windows, etc. to be covered by protective coverings known as "storm windows", which are normally metallic type shades that are rolled down in front of the windows to form a metallic barrier between the outside and the window. These systems, although effective, are quite expensive, and because of the amount of steel and other metal that is involved, require either electric or hydraulic means to move the storm window in place, also being architecturally and physically cumbersome. Therefore, there is a need in the industry for a relatively simple storm system that could be installed by the owner of the home, yet could be highly effective in protecting the windows and doors of buildings from flying debris during hurricanes or the like storms, when not in use, can be retracted to a position above the window, or the entire system could be removed from the window and stored away while not in use, or build in as an integral element of said structure.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The system of the present invention solves the shortcomings in the art in a simple and straightforward manner. What is provided is a storm protection system for openings such as windows which include an upper housing, mountable above the upper edge of the window, the housing accommodating a reinforced fabric shade being substantially the width of the window, on a roller within the housing so that the shade may be pulled from a first storage position within the housing to a second down position so that it would completely cover the window opening. There is further provided a plurality of spaced apart pockets formed within the fabric shade, and extending along its entire length, each of the pockets accommodating a length of a tubular member such as a section of PVC pipe, which would slidably engage within the pockets to form a plurality of reinforced members along the length of the shade as the shade is pulled downward. There is further provided a plurality of raised members mountable on the window sill or the like place, each of the raised members spaced apart equal distance as the spaced apart pockets in the shade. In the preferred embodiment, when the shade has been pulled down and the tubular member is slidable within the pockets, the upper ends of the tubular members would be engaged along a plurality of raised members positioned on the underside of the housing, and the lower ends of the tubular members would be engaged onto the raised members positioned on the window sill. The tubular members would be such a length that when the lower ends are engaged with the upper and lower members, it would create an outward bow of the PVC pipes, so that any object which would make contact with the shade, the outer bow of the pipes would provide further protection against impact and greater absorption of the impact of the debris making contact therewith.

Therefore, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a storm protection system, which is mountable on the exterior of a building, so that the system may be moved from a first retracted position to a second extended position and engaged to protect the window openings.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a storm protection system having a shade member that can be extended downward along a window opening, and accommodating a plurality of reinforcement tubes, to define a stronger protection barrier between the outside and the window. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a storm protection system which can be mounted on the exterior of windows, etc. allowing light penetration and ventilation prior to, during lulls in and immediately after the storm while still in place. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:

Figure 1 is an overall view of a window with the storm system mounted thereto and the shade retracted therein;

Figure 2 is an overall view of the system of the present invention with the reinforced shade extended to the protective position;

Figure 3 is a side view along lines 3-3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a partial view of the upper and lower housing members in relation to one another of the system of the present invention; Figure 5 is a partial view of the fabric roll contained within the upper housing of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a partial view of the extended shade illustrating the tubular members being inserted therein; and

Figure 7 is a partial view of the raised members on the base of the lower housing of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in Figure 1, system 10 is illustrated mounted upon an exterior window 12 which would be the type of window found in a home or the like structure having a pane glass 14 and a window frame 16 there around. As illustrated, there is seen the entire upper or lower (in some applications) housing 20 of the present invention mounted along the face 22 of the window frame 16, with the housing including an upper housing wall 24, a pair of end panels 26, a forward face 28, and a lower base member 30, as seen more clearly in Figure 5. Although not seen in Figure 1, reference is made to Figures 3 and 5 where there is illustrated a roll of reinforced fabric material 32 housed within frame in upper housing 20, with the forward space 28 of frame 20 and the base 30 of frame 20 defining a gap 34 therebetween, so that the layer of fabric 36 in roll 32 may be pulled therefrom. As seen in Figure 2, again there is illustrated the system 10 with upper housing 20 mounted against window 12, and in this illustration, the fabric 36 has been pulled through opening 34 of housing 20, and completely covers the entire windowpane 14 as was illustrated in Figure 1.

Reference is now made to the Figures for a discussion of the manner in which the reinforced fabric 36 as seen in Figure 2 is maintained in place against window 12, and the manner in which it protects window 12 from foreign debris. As seen in Figure 4, the upper housing 20 is seen in exploded view, showing that the housing 20 would include a cap portion 21, having the upper wall 24, the forward face 28 and the end portions 26, would slidably engage a lower base portion 23 which also includes a rear face 25 having a plurality of ports 27 to which screws or the like would be mounted against the upper portion of the window frame 16 for mounting it in place. Space 23 would further include a pair of triangulated side walls 29 and a base portion 31, wherein the upper cap 21 would slidably engage thereupon. Of course, as discussed earlier, the fabric roll 32 would be mounted upon a roller 40, as seen in Figure 3, with the roller 40 engaged against the two end members 41, as seen in Figure 4, so that the core 40 would roll in a similar fashion as a window shade as the fabric 36 is pulled therefrom as seen in Figure 5.

Further, as illustrated in Figure 4, there is seen a plurality of raised members 50, which extend downward from the lower face of 51 of base plate 31, each of the members would be designed in the configuration as seen in Figure 7, that is, having a series of wing members 52 attached to the under surface 51 of base 31 and terminating in a truncated point 54. As illustrated, there would be a plurality of four such members 50 along the length of base plate 31. Likewise, as illustrated in Figure 1, there would be a plurality of such raised members 50 positioned on the upper face 60 of window frame 16, the function of the raised members 50 to be discussed further. For purposes of construction, the raised members 50 could be simplified in that they could simply be a threaded stud extending outward in place of the raised members 50 which would be a simplified version of the type of mounting member that would be utilized with the present invention. Turning now to Figure 6, there is illustrated the system 10 with the fabric

36 being pulled from the upper housing 20. As illustrated, the fabric would also form a plurality of pockets 70 spaced apart along its length, each of the pockets being open ended on both their upper and lower ends so that a tubular member such as a length of PVC pipe 72 having a continuous wall portion and a hollow portion 74 may be slidably engaged into each of the pockets along their entire length as seen by arrow 76. After each of the PVC members 72 have been engaged within each of the pockets 70, reference is made to Figure 7, where there is illustrated in side view the fabric 36 housing each of the pipes 72 as seen in Figure 6, in each of the pockets 70. In this position there is illustrated the base 60 of the window frame and the upper portion being the upper housing 20 of the system. It is noted that the fabric which contains the pipes 72 is bowed vertically outward both laterally and vertically in the direction of arrows 80, in Figure 3. This accomplished by the lower end of the pipe 72 being engaged upon the members 50 positioned on the surface 60 of sill 16 as illustrated in Figure 1, and the upper end of each of the pipes 72 being engaged against the members 50 which are positioned on the lower face 51 of floor portion 31 of housing 23, and (laterally-horizontally) by a bowing of the roller offering a baffle effect. Therefore, the pipes are of sufficient length that when each of the ends 82, 84 of the pipes are thusly engaged, the pipes are forced to bend outward in the direction of arrow 80 as seen in Figure 3, with additional bowing shown by the phantom lines in that Figure. When this is accomplished, it would form a barrier of the type as seen in Figure 2 where the fabric 36 is bowed slightly outward so that when debris such as tree limbs or the like make contact with the fabric in the direction of arrows 86, in Figure 3, there is a greater cushion against the debris making contact with the window on the opposite side of the bowed fabric as seen in Figure 3.

It is foreseen that in the preferred embodiment, the vertical reinforcement may be at three foot centers, and may house one inch to three- fourths inch PVC pipe. The type of fabric that would be used would generally be a PVC coated fiberglass, kevlar-type or other high strength and durable fabric having the ability to withstand at least 200 psi force against the reinforced fabric. It is also foreseen that in the alternative, rather than have the members 50 attached directly to the upper surface 60 of window frame 16 as seen in Figure 1, there may be included a frame member which can be attached to the surface 60, with the frame member having the plurality of members 50 thereupon. Therefore, when the system would be fully removed from the window, that base plate could be removed also with the members 50 removed along with it.

In the preferred embodiment, the shade would extend over the edges of the windows three inches on each side of the window, and after a storm for example, has passed, the individual pipes 72 can be disengaged from the members 50, both of their upper and lower ends 82, 84, can be slidably disengaged from the pockets 70 of the shade, and the shade can then be rolled back into the storage configuration as seen in Figure 5. Following that, the shade can either be maintained within the housing 20 in a more permanent nature as seen in Figure 1, or the owner may wish to completely remove the housing from the window, and the individual members 50 from the sill or the plate if a plate is used on the sill, and stored away for future use.

The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims. As an additional refinement, this system will have means for attaching the vertical edges of the protective fabric to the structure, with elastic or rubber type straps or bungees.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A storm protection barrier for windows, comprising: a. a fabric portion of sufficient width to cover the window to be protected; b. a plurality of spaced apart pockets formed along substantially the length of the fabric portion; c. a plurality of tubular members, each member positionable within each of the plurality of pockets; d. means for engaging an upper and lower end of each tubular member adjacent the window, to define the protection barrier for the window.

2. The protection barrier in claim 1, further comprising at least an upper housing mountable on the window for housing the fabric portion.

3. The protection barrier in claim 2, wherein the fabric portion is contained as a roll of fabric in the housing as a first storage position and is rolled down in front of the window as a second protection position.

4. The protection barrier in claim 1, wherein the tubular members each comprise a length of PVC flexible tubing.

5. The protection barrier in claim 1 , wherein the means for engaging the upper and lower ends of the tubular members comprises a first plurality of raised members secured to a base of the housing to secure the upper end of the tubular members, and a second plurality of raised members secured to the frame of the window for securing the lower end of the tubular members in place before the window.

6. The protection barrier in claim 1, wherein the fabric portion comprises a single section of PVC coated fiberglass, kevlar or other high strength fabric having the ability to withstand at least 200 psi of force, that permits light and air penetration.

7. The protection barrier in claim 5, wherein the plurality of tubular members, when engaged on their upper and lower ends bow outward from the vertical plane to define a greater protection space between the window and the protection barrier.

8. A storm protection barrier for openings, comprising: a. a fabric portion of sufficient width to cover the window, etc. to be protected, the fabric portion movable from a first storage position to a second protective position before the window; b. a plurality of spaced apart pockets formed along substantially the length of the fabric portion; c. a plurality of tubular members, each member positionable within each of the plurality of pockets when the fabric has been moved to the second protective position; d. means for engaging an upper and lower end of each tubular member adjacent the window, to define the protection barrier for the window, etc.; and. e. an upper or lower housing, in some applications, mountable on the window, etc. for housing the fabric portion when the fabric is in the first storage position.

9. The protection barrier in claim 8, wherein the fabric portion is contained as a roll of fabric in the housing in the first storage position and is rolled down in front of the window to the second protection position.

10. The protection barrier in claim 8, wherein the tubular members each comprise a length of PVC flexible tubing, each having at least an opening on their first and second ends.

1 1. The protection barrier in claim 8, wherein the means for engaging the upper and lower ends of the tubular members comprises a first plurality of raised members secured to a base of the housing to secure the upper end of the tubular members, and a second plurality of raised members secured to the frame of the window for securing the lower end of the tubular members in place before the window.

12. The protection barrier in claim 8, wherein the fabric portion comprises a single section of PVC coated fiberglass or kevlar fabric having the ability to withstand at least 200 psi of force.

13. The protection barrier in claim 8, wherein the plurality of tubular members, when engaged on their upper and lower ends bow outward from the vertical plane to define a greater protection space between the window and the protection barrier.

14. A storm protection barrier for openings, such as windows, comprising: a. a single section of PVC coated fiberglass or kevlar fabric having the ability to withstand at least 200 psi of force, and of sufficient width to cover the window to be protected, the fabric portion movable from a first storage position to a second protective position before the window; b. a plurality of spaced apart pockets formed along substantially the length of the fabric portion; c . an upper housing mountable on the window for housing the fabric portion when the fabric is in the first storage position, and for allowing the fabric to be pulled across the window to the second protective position; d. a plurality of tubular members, each member positionable within each of the plurality of pockets when the fabric has been moved to the second protective position; and e. a plurality of raised members for engaging an upper and lower end of each tubular member adjacent the window, to define the protection barrier for the window, and wherein the plurality of tubular members, when engaged on their upper and lower ends bow outward from the vertical plane to define a greater protection space between the window and the protection barrier.