Hurricane curtain

Abstract

The present application is directed to a hurricane curtain system having a mountable retractable curtain rod assembly and a flexible curtain used to protect openings on a structure from wind and wind-driven debris. The hurricane curtain system can be permanently mounted to the inside portion of an opening in a dwelling such as a window wherein the retractable curtain rod is concealed by a decorative valance. The hurricane curtain is designed to be easily deployed when needed and once deployed will allow natural light to pass through to the inside of the structure. The invention is also directed to a hurricane curtain system that can be mounted to the outside of a structure to cover an opening when necessary and compactly stored when not in use.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to the field of hurricane curtains used to form a temporary barrier across openings in buildings or other structures to prevent damage to the interior of the structure by wind, wind driven debris and / or intruders. In particular, the hurricane curtains are designed to be installed in the interior of the structure so that when the curtains are rolled down they are able to stop debris from entering the structure and contain any resulting flying glass. The invention also relates to temporarily mountable hurricane curtains that can be retracted and easily stored when not in use. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Since Hurricane Andrew hit south Florida, the state government and the hurricane shutter industry has developed a set of standards that all hurricane shutters must meet or exceed. Since this catastrophic Hurricane more and more residents and businesses residing in hurricane prone areas have become more concerned with protectin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The present invention is directed to a hurricane curtain that can be mounted on either the outside or the inside area surrounding an opening to a domicile such as a window. Once in place, the hurricane curtain can be drawn and secured in place to protect occupants inside the structure from wind driven flying debris and possible flying glass.

[0008] The hurricane curtain of the present invention comprises a mountable retractable curtain rod assembly that comprises either a single rod or a first and second curtain rod for added strength. The flexible curtain is attached to the single rod or to the first curtain rod and threaded between the first and second curtain rods in the embodiment that includes a second curtain rod. This arrangement provides strength and allows the flexible hurricane to be drawn down from the curtain rods to cover the opening it is positioned to cover. The hurricane curtain can also be wound up again by simply reversing the process.

[0009] In order to maintain structural integrity of the hurricane curtain in the event that it is hit by a win driven projectile, the hurricane curtain is configured so as to have a pocket of material located at two opposing edges of the hurricane curtain. The pocket of material is designed to be open on at least one end so that it is able to slide over a rigid rod. This pocket of material is either heavily stitched or fussed together at the seams so as to prevent tarring at the seams if excess force is placed on the hurricane curtain by a wind driven projectile or an intruder trying to gain illegal entry into a domicile.

[0010] The hurricane curtain assembly has at least two of the rigid rods mentioned above positioned at opposite sides of the curtain with each rod having a diameter smaller than the diameter created by the pocket of material. This configuration permits the rigid rods to remain outside of the pocket of material when the hurricane curtain is in the retracted position and the rigid rods fit within the pocket of material when the curtain is in an un-retracted position.

[0011] The rigid rods can be made of composite material and or metal. The pocket of material is sandwiched within the frame of the hurricane curtain assembly so that when the pocket of material is slide over the rigid rod it cannot come loose from the curtain frame holding the curtain material in place. Holding the curtain in place provides protection of the interior of the domicile from wind driven debris and / or flying glass.

[0012] In another embodiment of the invention the hurricane curtain is equipped with a stabilizer bar that is in direct communication with the hurricane curtain and the mountable retractable curtain rod assembly. In other words, the stabilizer bar is attached or in communication with the portion of the hurricane curtain closest to the mountable retractable curtain rod assembly so that when the curtain is completely rolled down the stabilizer bar connects to the rigid rods positioned at the lower portion of the frame on opposite sides of the curtain. This configuration further stabilizes the hurricane curtain.

Problems solved by technology

Although these shutters meet or exceed the new standards, they are bulky, unsightly, and difficult to deploy, particularly by an elderly person.

In other words, an elderly couple residing in Florida would be unable to install and or use most of the shutters existing on the market today.

However, this practice results in some windows having excess blade assemblies because of the difference in the window size and the blade assembly size and requires a professional installer.

In addition, these shutters are located on the outside of the windows or doors and are not only unsightly but when deployed block all in coming light.

Since most hurricanes last for many hours, possibly days, and electricity is either shut off or lost, blocking light from getting into a structure may in fact paralyze the occupants living inside.

At the very least, blocking all of the natural light as well as any view of the outside is not only uncomfortable but can be dangerous since the inhabitants inside the structure will be unaware of falling trees, on coming tornadoes and any other possible catastrophic situations.

Not being aware of changing storm conditions because of blocked windows could leave the inhabitants as sitting ducks.

In addition, while weather forecasting and storm tracking are much improved, nobody is really sure of the areas of most potential damage for more than 12 hours.

This only adds to the stress of an on coming storm.

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