Slidable door and sidewall associated with tents, awnings, and other collapsible protective enclosures

Abstract

Novel slidable doors and sidewalls are adapted for use with collapsible protective enclosures (e.g., frame structure associated with a collapsible tent) such as tents, awnings, and restaurant patio shielding. The slidable doors and sidewalls, in addition to being flexible, may also be foldable, and, generally, slidably engage a slide track incorporated in such an enclosure. Further, the slidable doors and sidewalls generally comprise a flexible sheet that, in some embodiments, may also define openings therethrough and further comprise windows provided by semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheets. The present invention is also directed to collapsible protective enclosures comprising the above slidable doors and sidewalls, and to methods for retrofitting such enclosures with the above slidable doors and sidewalls, and to kits for accomplishing the same.

1 . A slidable door or sidewall adapted for detachable attachment to a protective enclosure, the protective enclosure having coupled thereto, along the top of an opening, a slide track having one of a welt and a groove for slidable engagement with the slidable door or sidewall, and the slidable door or sidewall comprising: 
 a flexible sheet having a continuous outer perimeter that has an outer perimeter region associated therewith and that defines a plurality of discrete outer edges, wherein at least one of the outer edges comprises the other of a welt and a groove for slidable engagement with the one of a welt and a groove of the slide track.    
     
     
         2 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one magnet integrally associated with at least one of the plurality of outer edges, other than the at least one outer edge comprising the other of a welt and a groove.  
     
     
         3 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 1  wherein the other of a welt and a groove is segmented so as to comprise n segments of substantially equal length, where n is equal to or greater than 2; and wherein the length of the distance between any two consecutive segments, as measured along the at least one outer edge comprising the other of a welt and a groove, is substantially equal to the length of one segment; and wherein the one of a welt and a groove of the slide track is one of n parallel welts and n parallel grooves; and wherein any two consecutive segments are adapted to slidably engage one of two adjacent welts and two adjacent grooves of the slide track; and wherein, when the slidable door or sidewall is opened, the flexible sheet folds upon itself so as to comprise 2+2(n−2) folds when the slidable door or sidewall is fully open.  
     
     
         4 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one magnet integrally associated with at least one of the plurality of outer edges, other than the at least one outer edge comprising the other of a welt and a groove.  
     
     
         5 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 1  wherein the flexible sheet is a fibrous material.  
     
     
         6 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 5  wherein the fibrous material is non-synthetic.  
     
     
         7 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 6  wherein the non-synthetic fibrous material is a canvas.  
     
     
         8 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 1  wherein the flexible sheet is a synthetic material.  
     
     
         9 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 8  wherein the synthetic material is vinyl.  
     
     
         10 . The slidable door or sidewall of claims  1  or  3  wherein the flexible sheet further comprises an inner perimeter bounding an opening therethrough, and wherein the inner perimeter has an inner perimeter region associated therewith and defines a plurality of discrete inner edges and associated edge regions.  
     
     
         11 . The slidable sidewall of  claim 10  wherein the opening defines a passageway or a door.  
     
     
         12 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 10  wherein the opening defines an open window.  
     
     
         13 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 12  wherein the discrete inner edges comprise two substantially vertical side inner edges and substantially horizontal upper and lower inner edges.  
     
     
         14 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 13  further comprising a semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet having a continuous perimeter and associated perimeter region, wherein the perimeter region of the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet is coextensive with the inner perimeter region of the flexible sheet, and wherein the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet is: 1) in a coplanar and fixedly attached relationship with the flexible sheet so as to provide a closed window; or 2) in a coplanar and detachably attached relationship with the flexible sheet so as to provide a removable window; or 3) in a coplanar and hingedly attached relationship with the flexible sheet so as to provide a window capable of being in a fully open, partially open, or closed position.  
     
     
         15 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 14  wherein, when the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet is in a coplanar and fixedly attached relationship with the flexible sheet, the resinous and flexible sheets are attached by means of an adhesive bond between the perimeter region of the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet and inner perimeter region of the flexible sheet.  
     
     
         16 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 14 , further comprising, when the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet is in a coplanar and fixedly attached or detachably attached relationship with the flexible sheet, a border sheet having outer and inner perimeters with outer and inner perimeter regions associated therewith, respectively, and defining a plurality of discrete outer and inner edges and edge regions, respectively, wherein the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet is in a coplanar and fixedly attached relationship with the border sheet such that the perimeter region of the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet is permanently coextensive with the inner perimeter region of the border sheet; and wherein, when the semi-rigid resinous sheet is detachably attached to the flexible sheet, the outer perimeter region of the border sheet is coextensive with the inner perimeter region of the flexible sheet, with at least one of outer edge regions of the border sheet being adapted for detachable attachment to the inner perimeter region of the flexible sheet coextensive therewith.  
     
     
         17 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 16  wherein the outer perimeter region of the border sheet comprises at least one first magnet, and the inner perimeter region of the flexible sheet comprises at least one second magnet, such that the at least one first and second magnets are adapted to couple so as to detachably attach the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet to the flexible sheet.  
     
     
         18 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 16  further comprising a plurality of securing straps connected to one or both of the flexible sheet and the border sheet for detachably attaching the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet to the flexible sheet.  
     
     
         19 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 14 , further comprising, when the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet is in a coplanar and hingedly attached relationship with the flexible sheet, a hinge and a border sheet having outer and inner perimeters with outer and inner perimeter regions associated therewith, respectively, and defining a plurality of discrete outer and inner edges and edge regions, respectively; wherein the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet is in a coplanar and fixedly attached relationship with the border sheet such that the perimeter region of the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet is permanently coextensive with the inner perimeter region of the border sheet; and wherein, when the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet is in the closed position, the outer perimeter region of the border sheet is coextensive with the inner perimeter region of the flexible sheet; and wherein at least one of the outer edge regions of the border sheet is, by means of the hinge, hingedly attached to the inner perimeter region of the flexible sheet coextensive therewith, and at least one of the outer edge regions of the border sheet not hingedly attached, is adapted for detachable attachment to the at least one inner perimeter region of the flexible sheet coextensive therewith.  
     
     
         20 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 19  wherein the plurality of discrete outer edges of the border sheet and the plurality of discrete inner edges of the flexible sheet comprise two substantially vertical side outer edges and two substantially vertical side inner edges, respectively, and substantially horizontal upper and lower outer edges and substantially horizontal upper and lower inner edges, respectively, with edge regions associated therewith; and wherein the lower outer edge region of the border sheet is hingedly connected, by means of the hinge, to the lower inner edge region of the flexible sheet coextensive therewith; and further comprising means for detachably attaching at least one of the side and upper outer edge regions of the border sheet with at least one of the side and upper inner edge regions of the flexible sheet coextensive therewith.  
     
     
         21 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 20  wherein the means for detachably attaching at least one of the side and upper edge regions of the border sheet with at least one of the side and upper edge regions of the flexible sheet comprises at least one magnet, at least one securing strap, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         22 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 21  further comprising at least one retaining strap adapted to connect at least one of the side and upper edge regions of the border sheet to the flexible sheet so as to allow the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet to be maintained in a partially open position.  
     
     
         23 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 22  further comprising a sheet of mesh material having a perimeter that defines a plurality of edges having edge regions associated therewith, wherein the edge regions of the sheet of mesh material are fixedly or detachably connected to the side and upper edge regions of the border sheet and to the side and upper edge regions of the flexible sheet coextensive therewith, so as to continuously bridge the gap formed between the border sheet and flexible sheet when the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet is in the partially open position, thereby providing a screen allowing the passage of air, but not insects, through the gap.  
     
     
         24 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 19  further comprising a means for securing the window, provided by the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet and border sheet, in the fully open position.  
     
     
         25 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 19  further comprising a sheet of mesh material.  
     
     
         26 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 14  wherein the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet is transparent.  
     
     
         27 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 14  wherein the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet further comprises a strip affixed to a planar surface thereof, the strip altering the transparency of the otherwise transparent thermoplastic resinous sheet.  
     
     
         28 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 14  wherein the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet is derived from an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, acrylic, nylon, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, or a vinyl resin.  
     
     
         29 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 14  wherein the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet is mirrored.  
     
     
         30 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 12  further comprising a sheet that includes a mesh material so as to provide a screen allowing the passage of air and light, but not insects, the screen having a continuous perimeter that has a perimeter region associated therewith, and the screen being 1) in a coplanar and fixedly attached relationship with the flexible sheet, the perimeter region of the screen being coextensive with the inner perimeter region of the flexible sheet, so as to provide a closed window screen; 2) in a coplanar and detachably attached relationship with the flexible sheet so as to provide a removable window screen; or 3) in a coplanar and hingedly attached relationship with the flexible sheet so as to provide a window screen capable of being in an open or closed position.  
     
     
         31 . The slidable door or sidewall of  claim 1  wherein the slidable door or sidewall is flexible.  
     
     
         32 . The slidable door or sidewall of claims  31  wherein the slidable door or sidewall is foldable.  
     
     
         33 . A collapsible protective enclosure for protecting an interior space from one or more natural elements, wherein the collapsible protective enclosure comprises a frame structure and a protective covering sheet draped over and fastened to at least a portion of the frame structure, the frame structure and protective covering sheet defining the interior space, the interior space further defining a floor, a plurality of walls, and a roof, the roof and plurality of walls intersecting at a plurality of edges, and the frame structure comprising at least one cross-member, spanning at least one of the walls and adjacent to at least one of the plurality of edges, and wherein the collapsible protective enclosure further comprises: 
 a slide track; and    a slidable door or sidewall,    wherein the slide track comprises one of a welt and a groove for slidable engagement with the slidable door or sidewall, and wherein the slidable door or sidewall comprises a flexible sheet having a continuous outer perimeter that defines a plurality of outer edges, at least one of the outer edges having the other of a welt and a groove provided for slidable engagement with the one of a welt and a groove of the slide track.    
     
     
         34 . The collapsible protective enclosure of  claim 33  wherein the slidable door or sidewall further comprises at least one magnet integrally associated with at least one of the plurality of outer edges thereof, other than the at least one edge having the other of a welt and a groove.  
     
     
         35 . The collapsible protective enclosure of  claim 33  wherein the slide track is one of a plurality of slide tracks, wherein the cross-member is one of a plurality of cross-members, wherein the slidable door or sidewall is one of a plurality of slidable doors or sidewalls, or combination thereof, and wherein the one of a welt and a groove of the slide track for slidable engagement with the slidable door or sidewall is one of a plurality of welts and a plurality of grooves.  
     
     
         36 . The collapsible protective enclosure of  claim 33  wherein the one of a welt and a groove of the slide track is one of two welts and two grooves.  
     
     
         37 . The collapsible protective enclosure of  claim 33  wherein the slide track is integrally associated with the cross-member.  
     
     
         38 . The collapsible protective enclosure of  claim 37  wherein the cross-member integrally comprises one of a welt and a groove adapted to slidably engage the other of a welt and a groove of the slidable door or sidewall.  
     
     
         39 . The collapsible protective enclosure of  claim 33  wherein the slide track is detachably attached to the cross-member  
     
     
         40 . The collapsible protective enclosure of  claim 39  wherein the cross-member integrally comprises one of a welt and a groove, adapted to slidably engage the other of a welt and a groove provided in the slide track for such slidable engagement.  
     
     
         41 . The collapsible protective enclosure of  claim 39  further comprising a plurality of hooks, each of the plurality of hooks comprising a first end adapted to detachably attach to the cross-member, and a second end adapted to detachably attach to the slide track.  
     
     
         42 . The collapsible protective enclosure of  claim 41  wherein the slide track further comprises a plurality of slots spaced along the length of the slide track, each slot passing laterally therethrough and adapted to detachably engage the second end of one of the plurality of hooks.  
     
     
         43 . The collapsible protective enclosure of  claim 39  further comprising a plurality of hooks and a plurality of adjusting straps, wherein each of the plurality of hooks has a first end adapted to detachably attach to the cross-member, and a second end adapted to adjustably engage an adjusting strap, and wherein each of the adjusting straps is connected to one of a welt and a groove, adapted to slidably engage the other of a welt and a groove provided in the slide track for such slidable engagement.  
     
     
         44 . The collapsible protective enclosure of  claim 33  wherein the slide track is provided by one of a welt and a groove fixedly or detachably attached to an elevated edge of the protective covering sheet, wherein the elevated edge runs along the top of an opening therethrough and extends beyond the same in at least one direction, and wherein the one of a welt and a groove is adapted to slidably engage the other of a welt and a groove of the slidable door or sidewall.  
     
     
         45 . The collapsible protective enclosure of  claim 44  wherein the fixed attachment is provided by stitches, an adhesive bond, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         46 . The collapsible protective enclosure of  claim 33  wherein the slidable door or sidewall comprises a window.  
     
     
         47 . The collapsible protective enclosure of  claim 46  wherein the window is provided by a semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet in a coplanar and attached relationship with the flexible sheet.  
     
     
         48 . The collapsible protective enclosure of  claim 47  wherein the resinous sheet is derived from an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, acrylic, nylon, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, or a vinyl resin.  
     
     
         49 . The collapsible protective enclosure of  claim 33  wherein the slidable sidewall comprises a passageway or a door.  
     
     
         50 . The collapsible protective enclosure of  claim 33  wherein the protective enclosure is a span tent or a pole tent.  
     
     
         51 . The collapsible protective enclosure of  claim 33  wherein the slidable door or sidewall is foldable.  
     
     
         52 . An architectural window adapted to be in a coplanar and fixedly attached relationship, or in a coplanar and detachably attached relationship, or in a coplanar or non-coplanar and hingedly attached relationship with a slidable door or sidewall of a collapsible protective enclosure, the architectural window comprising: 
 a border sheet having outer and inner perimeters defining a plurality of outer and inner edges, respectively; and    a semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet in a fixed and coplanar relationship with the border sheet.    
     
     
         53 . The architectural window of  claim 52 , further comprising at least one magnet associated with the border sheet or semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet, wherein the magnet is adapted to detachably maintain the architectural window in a closed position.  
     
     
         54 . The architectural window of  claim 52 , further comprising a hinge associated with the border sheet for hingedly attaching the window to the slidable door or sidewall.  
     
     
         55 . The architectural window of  claim 54  further comprising at least one magnet, at least one securing strap, or a combination thereof, adapted to maintain the window in the fully open or fully closed position.  
     
     
         56 . The architectural window of  claim 55  further comprising at least one retaining strap adapted to maintain the window in a partially open position.  
     
     
         57 . The architectural window of  claim 52  wherein the flexible sheet comprises a fibrous material.  
     
     
         58 . The architectural window of  claim 52  wherein the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet is derived from an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, acrylic, nylon, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, or a vinyl resin.  
     
     
         59 . The architectural window of  claim 52  wherein the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet is transparent.  
     
     
         60 . The architectural window of  claim 52  wherein the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet further comprises a strip affixed to a planar surface of the semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet, wherein the strip alters the transparency of the otherwise transparent semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet.  
     
     
         61 . A kit adapted to retrofit a collapsible protective enclosure with a slidable door or sidewall, the kit comprising: 
 a slidable door or sidewall comprising a flexible sheet, the flexible sheet having a continuous perimeter that defines a plurality of discrete outer edges;    a slide track comprising one of a first welt and a first groove for slidable engagement with the other of a welt and a groove of the slidable door or sidewall;    and means for attaching the slide track to a cross-member of the collapsible protective enclosure,    wherein the collapsible protective enclosure comprises a roof and a plurality of walls, the roof and the plurality of walls intersecting at a plurality of edges, and the cross-member, the latter being adjacent to one of the plurality of edges and spanning the top of an opening to be covered by the slidable door or sidewall.    
     
     
         62 . The kit of  claim 61  wherein the slide track is one of a plurality of slide tracks, wherein the cross-member is one of a plurality of cross-members, wherein the slidable door or sidewall is one of a plurality of slidable door or sidewalls, and wherein the one of a first welt and a first groove of the slide track is one of a plurality of first welts and a plurality of first grooves.  
     
     
         63 . The kit of  claim 61  wherein the means for detachably attaching the slide track to the cross-member comprises a plurality of hooks, each of the plurality of hooks comprising a first end adapted to detachably attach to the cross-member, and a second end adapted to detachably attach to the slide track, wherein the slide track further comprises a plurality of slots spaced along the length of the slide track, each slot passing laterally therethrough and adapted to detachably engage the second end of one of the plurality of hooks.  
     
     
         64 . The kit of  claim 61  wherein the means for detachably attaching the slide track to the cross-member comprises a plurality of hooks having adjustable straps, each of the plurality of hooks having a first end adapted to detachably attach to the cross-member, and a second end adapted to adjustably engage a strap, and wherein each of the adjustable straps is connected to the one of a welt and a groove, adapted to slidably engage the other of a second welt and a second groove provided in the slide track for such slidable engagement.  
     
     
         65 . The kit of  claim 61  wherein the slide track is adapted to replace the cross-member.  
     
     
         66 . The kit of  claim 61  further comprising a replacement cross-member comprising one of a welt and a groove for slidable engagement with the other of a second welt and a second groove provided in the slide track for such slidable engagement.  
     
     
         67 . The kit of  claim 61  wherein the slidable door or sidewall comprises a window.  
     
     
         68 . The kit of  claim 67  wherein the window is provided by a semi-rigid thermoplastic resinous sheet in a coplanar and attached relationship with the flexible sheet.  
     
     
         69 . The kit of  claim 68  wherein the resinous sheet is derived from an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, acrylic, nylon, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, or a vinyl resin.  
     
     
         70 . The kit of  claim 61  wherein the slidable sidewall comprises a passageway or a door.  
     
     
         71 . A method for retrofitting a collapsible protective enclosure with a slidable door or sidewall, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a collapsible protective enclosure having a frame structure that comprises a cross-member, the cross-member spanning the top of an opening in the collapsible protective enclosure to be covered by the slidable door or sidewall;    providing a slide track having one of a welt and a groove for slidable engagement with a slidable door or sidewall and attaching the slide track to the frame structure such that the slide track spans the top of the opening;    providing a slidable door or sidewall having the other of a welt and a groove, the slidable door or sidewall being sized to completely cover the opening when in the closed position; and    engaging the one of a first welt and a first groove of the slide track with the other of a welt and a groove of the slidable door or sidewall such that the slidable door or sidewall is in slidable engagement with the slide track,    wherein the slide track is attached to the frame structure by 1) attaching one or more slide track supporting devices to the cross-member, then attaching the slide track to the one or more slide track supporting devices, or 2) replacing the cross-member with a replacement cross-member having, integrally associated therewith, means for attachment to the slide track provided, the latter having, also integrally associated therewith, corresponding means for attachment to the replacement cross-member, or 3) replacing the cross-member with a slide track that is adapted to provide a cross-member and that comprises one of a welt and a groove for slidable engagement with the other of a welt and a groove of a slidable door or sidewall.    
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71  wherein the replacement cross-member comprises one of a welt and a groove adapted to slidably engage the other of a welt and a groove provided in the slide track for such slidable engagement.  
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 71  wherein the one or more slide track supporting devices is a plurality of hooks, each of the plurality of hooks having an adjustable strap associated therewith, wherein each of the plurality of hooks has a hooked end adapted to detachably engage the cross-member so as to hang therefrom, and a flat end adapted to adjustably engage one of the adjustable straps, and wherein the adjustable straps are connected to one of a welt and a groove adapted to slidably engage the other of a welt and a groove provided in the slide track for such slidable engagement.  
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 71  wherein the one or more slide track supporting devices is a plurality of hooks, each of which comprises a first end adapted to detachably engage the cross-member so as to hang therefrom, and a second end adapted to detachably engage the slide track.  
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74  wherein the slide track further comprises a plurality of slots spaced along the length of the slide track, each slot passing laterally therethrough and adapted to detachably engage the second end of one of the plurality of hooks.