A flexible yet durable roll-down curtain is normally stored in a rolled condition, and is unrolled during use. The curtain includes plural, vertically spaced apart rods extending through a width of the curtain. When rolled, the curtain wraps around an elongate, spring-loaded mandrel assembly. The ma
A flexible yet durable roll-down curtain is normally stored in a rolled condition, and is unrolled during use. The curtain includes plural, vertically spaced apart rods extending through a width of the curtain. When rolled, the curtain wraps around an elongate, spring-loaded mandrel assembly. The mandrel assembly couples with a pair of mounting brackets mounted at opposing sidewalls of a temperature-controlled compartment. A pair of locking brackets disposed directly opposite one another at opposing sidewalls engage opposing ends of a rod extending through the curtain, to retain the curtain in a deployed position. A flexible side seal provides a sealing engagement vertically along each side edge of the curtain. When deployed, the curtain extends from ceiling to floor, and from sidewall to sidewall, forming a barrier against uncontrolled air movement from a space on either side of the curtain to a space on an opposing side of the curtain.
대표청구항▼
1. A thermal curtain apparatus, comprising: a mandrel assembly including: an elongate inner shaft disposed coaxially within an elongate cylindrical outer shaft, wherein opposing ends of the inner shaft extend longitudinally beyond each corresponding end of the outer shaft;a curtain comprising an exp
1. A thermal curtain apparatus, comprising: a mandrel assembly including: an elongate inner shaft disposed coaxially within an elongate cylindrical outer shaft, wherein opposing ends of the inner shaft extend longitudinally beyond each corresponding end of the outer shaft;a curtain comprising an expanse of a flexible generally air impermeable material coupled at a first end thereof along the outer shaft by hook and loop fastening material, wherein the curtain is configured to concentrically wrap around the outer shaft in response to rotation of the outer shaft in a first direction during use, and to unwrap from the outer shaft in response to rotation of the outer shaft in a second direction during use; anda coiled spring coupled at a first end with the inner shaft and coupled at a second end with the outer shaft, wherein rotation of the outer shaft in the second direction relative to the inner shaft loads tension in the spring;a pair of elongate mounting brackets, wherein each mounting bracket of the pair includes:a base plate having a planar portion and opposing upper and lower ends thereof extending perpendicularly therefrom and which are both generally offset to one side of the width of the mounting bracket, the opposing ends and the planar portion of the base plate of the mounting bracket lie in a plane perpendicular to a securing flange portion of the bracket, and wherein the planar portion of the base plate includes plural horizontally slotted openings formed fully there through, with the openings being positioned at intervals between the two opposing ends of the mounting bracket, the slotted openings generally orientated perpendicular to the long axis of the bracket, and configured to receive insertion of fasteners for coupling the mounting bracket securely to a vertical surface of a sidewall, and wherein each of the opposing ends of the base plate are facing toward one another with the facing surfaces of the opposing ends lying in a planar-parallel relationship relative to each other, and at an angle of substantially ninety degrees relative to each of the base plate and the securing flange, an edge of each opposing end welded to an adjacent edge of the securing flange, and one or more slotted openings disposed through each of the opposing ends of the mounting bracket, the openings in the upper end of the mounting bracket configured to receive insertion of fasteners for coupling the mounting bracket securely to a horizontal surface directly above the mounting bracket:whereby a planar mandrel support ledge is provided along an inner face of the base plate, where an upper portion of the base plate is in transverse relationship to a lower portion thereof, with a slot extending across the base plate from an edge opposite the securing flange until arriving at an angled junction between the base plate and the securing flange, the ledge extending ninety degrees from the lower portion of the base plate for a distance that is less than the distance by which an end of the inner shaft of the mandrel assembly extends beyond a corresponding end of the outer shaft, and the ledge defining an inward facing tab formed between opposing ends of the mounting bracket, where the tab lies in a planar-parallel relationship with each of the opposing upper and lower ends of the mounting bracket, forming the mandrel support ledge;a pair of locking brackets, wherein each locking bracket of the pair includes: a planar base portion configured to confront and be securely coupled with the vertical mounting surface via one or more fasteners, andan inverted-V shaped rod engaging portion configured to receive and retain one of the two opposing ends of a first elongate rod extending through the curtain to retain the curtain in an unwrapped, deployed condition in opposition to tension loaded in the spring. 2. The thermal curtain apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pair of elongate side seals configured to extend vertically along the vertical mounting surface between a mounting bracket of the pair of mounting brackets and locking bracket of the pair of locking brackets, wherein each side seal of the pair includes: a base portion having a planar first side for confronting and securely coupling at the vertical mounting surface via one or more fasteners; anda seal including an elongate, flexible material including opposing sides bent in opposite directions to form a flat surface of attachment to the base portion, folded over lengthwise to form a generally bulging and flexible protrusion and coupled along an opposing second side of the base portion, wherein:the seal extends approximately perpendicularly from the base portion and the vertical surface when the side seal is coupled at the vertical surface for use, andthe seal overlaps an edge of the curtain extending between the first and second ends of the curtain when the curtain is unwrapped from the outer shaft during use and whereby the curtain tends to press against the pair of elongate seals due to refrigerated air flow, tending to seal a truck compartment to conserve energy expended in refrigerating the truck compartment. 3. The thermal curtain apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coiled spring is disposed within the outer shaft, and the inner shaft extends longitudinally through the coiled spring. 4. The thermal curtain apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pair of collar portions, wherein: each of the collar portions of the pair are disposed within and coupled with the outer shaft to prevent rotational movement of each collar portion relative to the outer shaft;the collar portions are disposed respectively at opposing ends of the outer shaft; andthe inner shaft extends coaxially through a central opening of each collar portion. 5. The thermal curtain apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a latch mechanism pivotably coupled at an outer surface of either or both collar portions of the pair of collar portions, wherein: a projection extends from a side of the latch mechanism proximate the inner shaft;the projection is configured, when pivoted into a first position, to engage with a recess disposed into an outer surface of either of the inner shaft or a plug extension extending longitudinally from an end of the inner shaft, and to prevent rotation of the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft; andthe projection is configured, when pivoted into a second position, to disengage from the recess and to allow rotation of the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft. 6. The thermal curtain apparatus of claim 4, further comprising either of a flange bushing or a flange bearing disposed concentrically within a recess formed at an inner surface of either or both of the collar portions, wherein the inner shaft extends through a central opening of the either of a flange bushing or a flange bearing. 7. The thermal curtain apparatus of claim 4, wherein: each of the collar portions comprises two or more collar ring portions arranged sequentially and adjacently; andthe inner shaft extends coaxially through the central openings of the two or more collar ring portions. 8. The thermal curtain apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner shaft is cylindrical, and further comprising: an elongate plug extension having a first end configured for insertion coaxially into an end of the inner shaft, and having a second end configured to extend beyond an end of the inner shaft, wherein a shaft portion of the plug extension extending from the first end thereof toward the second end thereof is configured suitably to slide telescopically into and out of the end of the inner shaft. 9. The thermal curtain apparatus of claim 8, wherein: the second end of the plug extension includes an opening formed transversely therethrough;the mandrel support portion of the mounting bracket includes an opening formed transversely therethrough; andthe opening through the second end of the plug extension aligns with the opening through the mandrel support portion when the thermal curtain apparatus is installed for use, enabling a fastener to be inserted through the respective openings in the plug extension and the mandrel support portion and to securely couple the mandrel assembly with the mounting bracket. 10. The thermal curtain apparatus of claim 1, wherein the curtain further comprises one or more additional elongate rods spaced apart along and coupled with the curtain in a parallel arrangement relative to the first elongate rod. 11. The thermal curtain apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a set screw securing collar disposed about the inner shaft at an end thereof, wherein: an adjustable set screw transversely extends through the securing collar and through an opening formed in the end of the inner shaft; anda first end of the set screw extending into the inner shaft engages the plug extension in a manner suitable to interfere with removal of the plug extension from the end of the inner shaft. 12. The thermal curtain apparatus of claim 1, wherein the generally air impermeable material is fiber reinforced vinyl. 13. The thermal curtain apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a guard bar coupled to lower ends of the mounting brackets to protect the mandrel assembly.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (7)
Hopper Thomas P. (Durham CT), Apparatus for insulating against conductive, convective and radiant heat transmission.
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