Flexible curtain structure

Claim 1

A closure apparatus for an opening in a building structure, said opening being defined by a base, a head member and side members, comprising: a. an elongated roller of sufficient length to sag when supported in a horizontal position by its extremities only; b. means for securing the ends of the roller to said header adjacent the opening for rotation about its longitudinal axis; c. a flexible rectangular curtain dimensioned to cover the opening and secured along a marginal edge to said elongated roller and fabricated from: 1. a plurality of panels of flexible material and rectangular configuration in coplanar side-by-side relation and having adjacently disposed marginal edges in confronting relation; and 2. a separate narrow strip of flexible material similar to said panel material secured to each of adjacent panels in overlapping relation with marginal portions of each of said adjacent panels and coextensively overlying said confronting marginal edges; e. means for supporting the roller intermediate its extremities including at least one support roller disposed in load supporting relation with said elongated roller and curtain and having its axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of said elongated roller, and a supporting bracket in which said support roller is mounted for rotation, said bracket being secured to said head member and disposed relative to said curtain so that said narrow strip of flexible material passes between said support roller and said elongated roller as the curtain is wound upon and unwound from said elongated roller; and f. selectively operable drive means coacting with at least one extremity of said elongated roller for rotating said roller in either direction to wind said curtain on said elongated roller, or unwind it therefrom.