Flexible retractable door

Abstract

A flexible, retractable assembly for use as a door, space divider, covering or the like which comprises a sheet such as Mylar polyester film having a permanent memory set to roll up on itself or otherwise retract automatically into a coil, accordion, or other compact configuration. The assembly is adapted to be stored on one side of an opening and then guided across the opening to fully or partially cover the opening. The permanent memory set of the sheet permits it to retract at least partially under its own force to eliminate or minimize the need for separate rewinding apparatus. The sheet may substitute for a variety of standard products including entryway doors, closet, cabinet and shower doors, screen doors and windows, room dividers, machinery guards and covers for various items such as florescent light fixtures. The sheet may be combined with decorative finishes including a tambour composite structure providing aesthetic and functional advantages.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A flexible retractable closure assembly for an opening comprising: 
 a first flexible sheet having front and rear end edges, side edges extending laterally between the end edges, and a plurality of longitudinally extending folds, the first flexible sheet being part of a composite which includes a second flexible sheet overlying at least part of the first flexible sheet, the second flexible sheet being bonded to the first flexible sheet at the front and rear edges thereof,    said first flexible sheet comprising a film formed from a crystalline or semicrystalline polymer and having been thermally treated to have a permanent memory set to gather itself automatically into a compact configuration proximate said rear edge,    locating means retaining said compact configuration at one side of said opening,    guide means guiding said first flexible sheet from the locating means across the opening,    retaining means for holding the first flexible sheet in an extended position whereby the first flexible sheet extends at least partially over said opening,    and wherein the first flexible sheet is movable in accordion fashion between: 
 (a) a retracted position with the front end edge near the locating means and the substantial entirety of the first flexible sheet in a compact state, and  
 (b) said extended position with the front end edge spaced from the locating means and a substantial portion of the first flexible sheet extending across the opening.  
   
     
     
         2 . A flexible retractable closure assembly for an opening comprising: 
 a first flexible sheet having front and rear end edges, and side edges extending laterally between the end edges, the first flexible sheet being part of a composite which includes a second flexible sheet overlying at least part of the first flexible sheet, the second flexible sheet being bonded to the first flexible sheet at the front and rear edges thereof and having stiffening means for stiffening said first flexible sheet against deflection out of vertical,    said first flexible sheet comprising a film formed from a crystalline or semicrystalline polymer and having been thermally treated to have a permanent memory set to gather itself automatically into a compact configuration proximate said rear edge,    locating means retaining said compact configuration at one side of said opening,    guide means guiding said first flexible sheet from the locating means across the opening,    retaining means for holding the first flexible sheet in an extended position whereby the first flexible sheet extends at least partially over said opening,    and wherein the first flexible sheet is movable between: 
 (a) a retracted position with the front end edge near the locating means and the substantial entirety of the first flexible sheet in a compact state, and  
 (b) said extended position with the front end edge spaced from the locating means and a substantial portion of the first flexible sheet extending across the opening.  
   
     
     
         3 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the compact configuration comprises a coil.  
     
     
         4 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said locating means comprise vertical axle means centrally within said coil.  
     
     
         5 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said axle means comprise upper and lower center posts extending axially into the center of the coil from each end of the coil.  
     
     
         6 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said locating means comprises housing means disposed circumferentially about the coil with a vertical slot therethrough directed towards the guide means through which the first flexible sheet extends.  
     
     
         7 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said housing comprises an elongate hollow tube adjacent said opening with a forward face in the plane of the opening, a side face directed towards the opening, and the vertical slot located in said side face proximate said forward face.  
     
     
         8 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said tube is generally rectangular in cross-section.  
     
     
         9 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said retaining means is provided by frictional engagement between said first flexible sheet and said guide means.  
     
     
         10 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said retaining means include latch means for holding said first flexible sheet in the extended position.  
     
     
         11 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said retaining means include pivotally mounted bars extending from said locating means into engagement with said front edge.  
     
     
         12 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 2  including handlebar means attached to said front end edge, and said guide means also including at least lower channel means for receiving a lower end of said handlebar means, and low friction means interposed between said lower end and said channel means to facilitate movement of the handlebar means within said channel means.  
     
     
         13 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 2  including handlebar means attached to said front end edge, said guide means also including lower support means engaging the lower end of said handlebar means, said lower support means defining a crowned upper surface and said lower end defining a recess receiving said crowned surface.  
     
     
         14 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 13  including a channel defined by said lower support means adjacent said crowned upper surface, the lower side edge of said first flexible sheet being received in said channel.  
     
     
         15 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said first flexible sheet is used as a shower curtain, and including drainage opening means at the lower end of said channel for directing liquid to the interior side of the shower curtain.  
     
     
         16 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 2  including means positioned at the side of said opening opposite said locating means for urging said first flexible sheet to the extended position, and means extending between and attached to said urging means and to said front end edge whereby the urging means assists in movement of the first flexible sheet to the extended position.  
     
     
         17 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 16  including second locating means disposed in spaced relationship to said first-mentioned locating means, and a second sheet extending from said second locating means toward first-mentioned locating means whereby the respective sheets are movable toward and away from each other across said opening.  
     
     
         18 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said guide means includes handlebar means extending vertically along the front edge of said first flexible sheet, said assembly further comprising: 
 a pivotally mounted retaining bar means movable in response to movement of said first flexible sheet, said retaining bar means operating to assist in holding said first flexible sheet in an extended position, and being pivotally connected between said handlebar means and said locating means,  
 a channel member attached to one of said handlebar means and said locating means adjacent the lower end thereof, one end of said bar means being received in said channel member, the other end of said bar means being pivotally attached to the other of said handlebar means and said locating means and pivoting of said bar means in response to movement of said first flexible sheet serving to retain said handlebar and locating means substantially evenly spaced apart, and  
 a roller attached to said one end of said bar means to facilitate movement relative to said channel means.  
 
     
     
         19 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said urging means comprises a weight, and a cord extending between said weight and front end edge.  
     
     
         20 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 19  including a pulley over which said cord extends, a motor adapted to drive said pulley for assisting in movement of said first flexible sheet, and means for turning said motor on and off.  
     
     
         21 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said urging means comprises a motor.  
     
     
         22 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said permanent memory set is provided in only a portion of said first flexible sheet.  
     
     
         23 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 2  including a second sheet having a permanent memory set positioned in said locating means for extension and retraction along with said first flexible sheet.  
     
     
         24 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 23  wherein said first flexible sheet and said second flexible sheet extend in the same direction in spaced apart fashion, and including collapsible reinforcing means interposed between the sheets.  
     
     
         25 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 23  wherein said flexible sheets extend in different directions for serving as closure means with respect to separate openings.  
     
     
         26 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 25  wherein the rear end edges of said separate sheets are connected.  
     
     
         27 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 23  wherein said second flexible sheet comprises an extension of said first flexible sheet, said second flexible sheet being maintained within said locating means for uncoiling therein.  
     
     
         28 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 27  wherein at least part of said first mentioned first flexible sheet is without a memory set whereby the memory set of said second flexible sheet serves as the means for moving the first flexible sheet to a retracted position.  
     
     
         29 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said guide means include a support extending across said opening along the path of movement of the top side edge of said first flexible sheet, and means attached to said first flexible sheet and movable relative to said support whereby said support assists in maintaining said first flexible sheet in said path of movement.  
     
     
         30 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 2  in which said permanent memory set maintains adjacent first flexible sheet surfaces in a spaced-apart relationship when said first flexible sheet is in said compact configuration.  
     
     
         31 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 2  in which the stiffening means is comprised of a flexible tambour sheet or said flexible sheet supporting tambour slats.  
     
     
         32 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 2  in which there are three points of suspension of the composite.  
     
     
         33 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 32  in which the three points of suspension of the composite are at the upper and lower ends of the coil and adjacent the upper front edge of the first flexible sheet.  
     
     
         34 . A flexible retractable closure assembly for an opening comprising: 
 a flexible sheet having front and rear end edges and side edges extending laterally between the end edges,    said flexible sheet comprising film formed from a crystalline or semicrystalline polymer and having been thermally treated to have a permanent memory set to gather itself automatically into a compact configuration proximate said rear edge,    locating means retaining said compact configuration at one side of said opening,    guide means guiding said flexible sheet from the locating means across the opening,    retaining means for holding the flexible sheet in an extended position whereby the flexible sheet extends at least partially over said opening,    and wherein the flexible sheet is movable between: 
 (a) a retracted position with the front end edge near the locating means and the substantial entirety of the flexible sheet in a compact state, and  
 (b) said extended position with the front end edge spaced from the locating means and a substantial portion of the flexible sheet extending across the opening,  
   said assembly including a collapsible lattice structure having one end attached adjacent said front end edge of said flexible sheet and the other end attached adjacent said locating means, said lattice work extending and collapsing in response to extension and retraction of said flexible sheet.    
     
     
         35 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 2  in which said assembly includes a collapsible lattice structure having one end attached adjacent said front end edge of said first flexible sheet and the other end attached adjacent said locating means, said lattice work extending and collapsing in response to extension and retraction of said first flexible sheet.  
     
     
         36 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 35  in which both the first flexible sheet and the second flexible sheet have a permanent memory set.