US3715843A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fire protection apparatus for a building
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-08-23
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Granted: 1973-02-13
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Expires: 1991-08-23
Abstract
Abstract Fire-resistant apparatus for covering and enclosing a building for protecting it from airborne firebrands, or the like, produced by a high-velocity fire storm. The enclosing apparatus includes flexible, thin-sheet cover means of fire-resistant or fireretardant material which is usually in the form of several panel portions adapted to be edge-joined by junction means to provide a composite cover of a desired size and shape for protecting a particular building and which is then pulled into place covering the building with edges of the cover means being firmly fastened together and effectively sealed substantially completely around the building to adjacent ground surface portions by edgefastening means so that the high-velocity winds produced by a fire storm will be substantially excluded and so that the fireretardant character of the cover means will prevent the building from catching fire as a result of burning embers or firebrands being blown by the approaching fire storm onto the building (of course, with the protective fire-retardant cover interposed therebetween). The multi-panel cover means and the edge-fastening means and auxiliary fastening strap means provided for attachment thereof are so constructed as to be capable of being very quickly and relatively easily assembled and mounted in protective relationship over a building by a small crew of men when the building is threatened by an approaching fire storm.
Inventors
- 👤 V Ballinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:19
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/62; E04B1/92; E04B1/94; E04B1/945; E04H; E04H15/00; E04H15/02; E04H15/18; E04H15/32; E04H15/54; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S52/00; Y10S52/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
Fire protection apparatus for a building, comprising: flexible, thin-sheet, protective cover means of fire-retardant material having fasten-down edge portions and intervening area-covering, building-enclosing panel portions adapted to be placed over and in enclosing relationship with respect to a building which is to be protected from a high-velocity fire, with said area-covering, building-enclosing panel portions enveloping, protecting, and exteriorly covering and isolating substantially the entire surface of such a building from any exterior firebrands, flaming material, or burning embers which may come into contact therewith from an approaching high-velocity fire, and with said fasten-down edge portions being effectively provided with edge fastening and edge engagement means and being adapted to be effectively fastened down and sealed by same with respect to adjacent ground surface areas around edge portions of such a building, said panel portions of said protective cover means being provided with multiple spaced first attachment means; said edge fastening means being provided with multiple spaced second attachment means; and multiple auxiliary fastening strap means, each having first connection means at one end thereof cooperable for connection to any corresponding one of said multiple spaced first attachment means provided at said multiple locations of said panel portions of said protective cover means and having second connection means of a controllably adjustable, longitudinal spacing from said first connection means cooperable for taut connection to any corresponding one of said multiple spaced second attachment means carried by corresponding ones of said edge fastening means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
Fire protection apparatus for a building, comprising: flexible, thin-sheet, protective cover means of fire-retardant material having fasten-down edge portions and intervening area-covering, building-enclosing panel portions adapted to be placed over and in enclosing relationship with respect to a building which is to be protected from a high-velocity fire, with said area-covering, building-enclosing panel portions enveloping, protecting, and exteriorly covering and isolating substantially the entire surface of such a building from any exterior firebrands, flaming material, or burning embers which may come into contact therewith from an approaching high-velocity fire, and with said fasten-down edge portions being effectively provided with edge fastening and edge engagement means and being adapted to be effectively fastened down and sealed by same with respect to adjacent ground surface areas around edge portions of such a building, said panel portions of said protective cover means being provided with multiple spaced first attachment means; said edge fastening means being provided with multiple spaced second attachment means; and multiple auxiliary fastening strap means, each having first connection means at one end thereof cooperable for connection to any corresponding one of said multiple spaced first attachment means provided at said multiple locations of said panel portions of said protective cover means and having second connection means of a controllably adjustable, longitudinal spacing from said first connection means cooperable for taut connection to any corresponding one of said multiple spaced second attachment means carried by corresponding ones of said edge fastening means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
242 words
Fire protection apparatus for a building, comprising: flexible, thin-sheet, protective cover means of fire-retardant material having fasten-down edge portions and intervening areacovering, building-enclosing panel portions adapted to be placed over and in enclosing relationship with respect to a building which is to be protected from a high-velocity fire, with said area-covering, building-enclosing panel portions enveloping, protecting, and exteriorly covering and isolating substantially the entire surface of such a building from any exterior firebrands, flaming material, or burning embers which may come into contact therewith from an approaching high-velocity fire, and with said fasten-down edge portions being effectively provided with edge fastening and edge engagement means and being adapted to be effectively fastened down and sealed by same with respect to adjacent ground surface areas around edge portions of such a building, said panel portions of said protective cover means being provided with multiple spaced first attachment means; said edge fastening means being provided with multiple spaced second attachment means; and multiple auxiliary fastening strap means, each having first connection means at one end thereof cooperable for connection to any corresponding one of said multiple spaced first attachment means provided at said multiple locations of said panel portions of said protective cover means and having second connection means of a controllably adjustable, longitudinal spacing from said first connection means cooperable for taut connection to any corresponding one of said multiple spaced second attachment means carried by corresponding ones of said edge fastening means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
242 words
Fire protection apparatus for a building, comprising: flexible, thin-sheet, protective cover means of fire-retardant material having fasten-down edge portions and intervening areacovering, building-enclosing panel portions adapted to be placed over and in enclosing relationship with respect to a building which is to be protected from a high-velocity fire, with said area-covering, building-enclosing panel portions enveloping, protecting, and exteriorly covering and isolating substantially the entire surface of such a building from any exterior firebrands, flaming material, or burning embers which may come into contact therewith from an approaching high-velocity fire, and with said fasten-down edge portions being effectively provided with edge fastening and edge engagement means and being adapted to be effectively fastened down and sealed by same with respect to adjacent ground surface areas around edge portions of such a building, said panel portions of said protective cover means being provided with multiple spaced first attachment means; said edge fastening means being provided with multiple spaced second attachment means; and multiple auxiliary fastening strap means, each having first connection means at one end thereof cooperable for connection to any corresponding one of said multiple spaced first attachment means provided at said multiple locations of said panel portions of said protective cover means and having second connection means of a controllably adjustable, longitudinal spacing from said first connection means cooperable for taut connection to any corresponding one of said multiple spaced second attachment means carried by corresponding ones of said edge fastening means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
110 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said edge fastening means comprises a plurality of longitudinal fastening bars and cooperating bar-to-ground fastening means having upper, downwardly facing, transversely directed, bar-engaging contact shoulder means and having substantially vertically, downwardly directed ground-penetrating stake means, with said plurality of bar means being adapted to be placed over different parts of said fasten-down edge portions of said protective cover means which are superimposed upon corresponding underlying ground surface portions and with said bar-engaging contact shoulder being forced downwardly into firm retaining contact with each of said bar means by forcing the downwardly directed stake means into an adjacent portion of such a ground surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said second attachment means takes the form of an attachment bracket member carried by a corresponding portion of said edge fastening means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
205 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said protective cover means is provided with a plurality of reinforcing and strengthening straps effectively joined thereto at a plurality of spaced locations and in a predetermined pattern and with certain of said reinforcing straps crossing each other at predetermined, multiple, cross-over locations at predetermined angles, each of said first attachment means comprising a pair of crossed, reinforcing strap loops formed of said reinforcing straps at said cross-over locations, each of said second attachment means comprising an attachment bracket member carried by a corresponding portion of said edge fastening means. 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said protective cover means is provided with a plurality of reinforcing and strengthening straps effectively joined thereto at a plurality of spaced locations and in a predetermined, rectangularly-arranged, grid-like pattern and with certain of said reinforcing straps crossing each other at predetermined, multiple, cross-over locations at predetermined, substantially perpendicular angles, each of said first attachment means comprising a pair of crossed, reinforcing strap loops formed of said reinforcing straps at said cross-over locations, each of said second attachment means comprising an attachment bracket member carried by a corresponding portion of a corresponding bar-to-ground fastening means of said edge fastening means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said longitudinal fastening bars cross-sectionally is of substantially rectangular shape having four sides provided with four corresponding longitudinal groove means for the reception therein of the corresponding transversely directed contact shoulder of one or more of said bar-to-ground fastening means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said longitudinal bars is provided at predetermined locations with transversely directed storage-mounting apertures for conveniently storing a plurality of same on correspondingly spaced storage bars.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first connection means comprises an end-positioned loop portion of each of said auxiliary fastening straps having controllably connectible fastening hook means carried at locations spaced apart by said end-positioned loop portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said protective cover means comprises a plurality of panel portions, each provided with controllably engageable mating edge junction means for firmly fastening together adjacent edge portions of an assembly of such panel portions whereby to together form a complete composite protective cover means of a desired size and shape suitable for substantially completely enclosing, enveloping, and protecting any of various different-sized buildings within a predetermined range of sizes and shapes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said edge junction means comprises mating sets of first and second junction elements of two different types carried along corresponding joinable edges of said panel portions which are to be joined together to form said desired complete composite protective cover means of a desired size and shape.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, including multiple edge junction bridging and reinforcing means carried by opposed parts of said joined panel portions in a manner perpendicular to an intervening part of said edge junction means and fastenable with respect to each other in effective overriding bridging edge-junction-strengthening relationship whereby to substantially remove excessive stress from said edge junction means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said protective cover means comprises a plurality of substantially rectangular panel portions, each provided with controllably engageable mating edge junction means for firmly fastening together adjacent edge portions of an assembly of such panel portions whereby to together form a complete composite protective cover means of a desired size and shape suitable for substantially completely enclosing, enveloping, and protecting any of various different-sized buildings within a predetermined range of sizes and shapes; and including multiple edge junction bridging and reinforcing means carried by opposed aligned end portions of said reinforcing strap means of adjacent ones of said panel portions fastened together by said edge junction means and fastenable with respect to each other in effective overriding bridging edge-junction-strengthening relationship whereby to substantially remove excessive stress from said edge junction means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said edge junctIon bridging and reinforcing means comprises controllably engageable and disengageable bridging hook means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 10, including edge junction coding and identification means carried by said panel portions in identifying association with said corresponding mating junction element sets for quick identification and corresponding proper placement in adjacent relationship of such junction element sets when initially assembling said panel portions to form said complete protective cover means over a building for protecting same from a rapidly approaching high-velocity fire storm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9, including panel coding and identification means carried by each panel portion and corresponding to its size and shape whereby to provide quick identification of each particular type, size, and shape of panel during the initial assembly and edge-joining of same in protective relationship over a building which is to be protected from a rapidly approaching fire storm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-13 | 1976-08-14 | 1977-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-13 | 1980-08-14 | 1981-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-13 | 1984-08-14 | 1985-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |