US4304174A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Segmented panel curtain opening closure
Assignee: Entropy Controls Inc
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Filing: 1979-12-31
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Granted: 1981-12-08
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Expires: 1999-12-31
Abstract
Abstract An improved opening closure system utilizing a plurality of curtains supported in a way to cover the opening with alternate embodiments having primary and secondary curtains acting as a thermal siphon and with fan units as a power air destratifier.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey D. Hickson
- 👤 Robert S. Dworkin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:39
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47H; A47H23/00; A47H23/02; A47H23/04; A47H23/06; E; E06; E06B; E06B3/00; E06B3/70; E06B3/80; F; F24; F24F; F24F7/00; F24F7/04; F24F7/06; A47H2201/00; A47H2201/01; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S160/00; Y10S160/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
An improved system for the support of curtains utilized as opening closures comprising: An angle iron support member suspended in an opening in an enclosure having defined therein an area of use with the angle thereof pointing upwards forming a top and its open portion facing downwards having a front downwardly sloping portion and a rear downwardly sloping portion; a plurality of overlapping curtain member strips positioned over said front portion above said top, down said rear portion and extending to the inside of the rear portion of said angle iron; and a strip magnet affixed to the top of said curtain members adhered by magnetic attraction to the inside of the rear portion of said angle iron.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
An improved system for the support of curtains utilized as opening closures comprising: An angle iron support member suspended in an opening in an enclosure having defined therein an area of use with the angle thereof pointing upwards forming a top and its open portion facing downwards having a front downwardly sloping portion and a rear downwardly sloping portion; a plurality of overlapping curtain member strips positioned over said front portion above said top, down said rear portion and extending to the inside of the rear portion of said angle iron; and a strip magnet affixed to the top of said curtain members adhered by magnetic attraction to the inside of the rear portion of said angle iron.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said overlapping strips are comprised of two outer 36" strips, two inner 27" strips, said 27" strips overlapping their adjacent 36" strips by 3" and overlapping one another in a central portion thereof by approximately 5" and a first and second 18" strip overlapping the juncture between said 27" strip and the 36" strip forming a primary curtain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 2 wherein portions of the strip magnets adhering said strip to said angle iron support member are cut away where said portions overlap with the magnets on other strips.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 2 further including curtain member strips forming a secondary curtain positioned behind the primary curtain wherein the primary curtain extends to the floor and the secondary curtain is suspended from a position approximately 8"-9" to the rear of the primary curtain and extends downward to approximately 2 ft-3 ft above the floor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
101 words
The system of claim 4 wherein the strips of the secondary curtain do not overlap and where the bottom portions of each strip adjacent to the outer strip are cutaway higher than the adjacent strips to allow for air to be directed thereunder, said primary and secondary strips forming a passive thermal siphon to allow air which strikes the inside of the first primary strips to be somewhat cooled and to fall downward and pass into the inside of said opening under the secondary strip thereby causing an increase in temperature and destratification of the air within the area of use.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 4 further utilizing a power destratification means comprised of a series of at least one fan member to force air from the top of the area of use down between the primary and secondary strips and back into the area of use under the secondary strip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
The system of claim 6 having a system of thermostats located at the top and the bottom of the area of use controlling the power destratification means wherein when the temperature of the upper thermostat is a predetermined amount higher than the temperature of the lower thermostat, the fan(s) will be activated to balance the thermal content of the area of use.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 6 or 7 wherein the primary and secondary curtain positions are reversed in the summer to exhaust hot air from the top of the area of use under the secondary curtain now facing outward.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 3 further including a strip of magnetic material affixed to a first curtain inside a point of overlap with a second curtain and a magnetically attractive material affixed to said second curtain at a point approximating the position of said strip of magnetic material adapted to make contact and be magnetically separably held thereto.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said magnetic material and magnetically attractive strip extend vertically a substantial length of said curtains.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 2 further including a pair of angularly disposed side curtains each extending from an outer curtain to a side wall of said opening.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-12-07 | 1985-06-08 | 1985-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-12-07 | 1989-06-08 | 1989-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-12-07 | 1993-06-08 | 1993-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |