Hurricane curtain

Abstract

The present application is directed to a hurricane curtain system having a mountable retractable curtain rod assembly and a flexible curtain used to protect openings on a structure from wind and wind-driven debris. The hurricane curtain system can be permanently mounted to the inside portion of an opening in a dwelling such as a window wherein the retractable curtain rod is concealed by a decorative valance. The hurricane curtain is designed to be easily deployed when needed and once deployed will allow natural light to pass through to the inside of the structure. The invention is also directed to a hurricane curtain system that can be mounted to the outside of a structure to cover an opening when necessary and compactly stored when not in use.

1 . A hurricane curtain comprising: 
 a mountable retractable curtain rod assembly;    a flexible curtain in direct communication with said mountable retractable curtain rod assembly whereby said curtain unwinds to cover an opening that said curtain is positioned in front of and said opening is revealed when said curtain is wound up;    said flexible curtain comprising a pocket of material open at one end located on at least two opposite edges of said curtain;    at least two rigid rods positioned at opposite sides of said curtain, each rigid rod having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said pocket of material wherein each of said rigid rods fit within said pocket of material when said curtain is in an un-retracted position; and    a frame configured to entrap said rigid rod in said pocket of material when in the un-retracted position.    
   
   
       2 . The hurricane curtain according to  claim 1  wherein the mountable retractable rod assembly comprises a first and a second curtain rod, said first and second curtain rods are positioned in close proximity to each other and said flexible curtain is attached to said first curtain rod and said flexible curtain threads between said first and second curtain rods whereby the flexible curtain may be drawn down from the curtain rods to cover said opening.  
   
   
       3 . The hurricane curtain according to  claim 2  wherein said curtain assembly further comprises at least one torsion spring for biasing at least one curtain rod in a rotary direction tending to wind said curtain onto said curtain rod when said curtain is allowed to move upward, said spring having a movable end connected to said curtain rod and a stationary end.  
   
   
       4 . The hurricane curtain according to  claim 3  wherein said stationary end of said curtain rod is attached to a frame surrounding said opening being covered by said hurricane curtain.  
   
   
       5 . The hurricane curtain according to  claim 3  further comprising a draw bar affixed along the lower edge of said hurricane curtain, whereby said hurricane curtain may be drawn down from said curtain rod assembly by lowering said drawbar.  
   
   
       6 . The hurricane curtain according to  claim 5  further comprising a frame having a top, a bottom and two sides wherein said curtain assembly is mounted to said frame.  
   
   
       7 . The hurricane curtain according to  claim 6  wherein the curtain assembly is attached to the top of said frame.  
   
   
       8 . The hurricane curtain according to  claim 6  further comprising a pair of stops positioned on opposite sides of said frame for stopping the draw bar from overextending.  
   
   
       9 . The hurricane curtain according to  claim 7  further comprising latches located at the bottom of said frame whereby said drawbar attaches when said curtain is in said extended position.  
   
   
       10 . The portable hurricane curtain according to  claim 9  further comprising a stabilizer bar that is in communication with said hurricane curtain and said mountable retractable curtain rod assembly whereby said stabilizer bar connects to said rigid rods positioned at the lower portion of said frame on opposite sides of said curtain to further stabilize the hurricane curtain.  
   
   
       11 . A portable hurricane curtain kit comprising: 
 a mountable retractable curtain and curtain rod assembly comprising a flexible curtain in direct communication with said mountable retractable curtain rod assembly whereby said curtain unwinds to cover an opening that said curtain is positioned in front of and said opening is revealed when said curtain is wound up;    said flexible curtain comprising a pocket of material open at one end located on at least two opposite edges of said curtain; and    a collapsible frame, said collapsible frame comprising a top, a bottom, two opposing sides, and at least two rigid rods attached to said lower portion of said frame at opposite sides of said curtain, each rigid rod having a diameter smaller than the diameter of said pocket of material wherein each of said rigid rods fit within said pocket of material when said curtain is wound down thereby securing said curtain in place.    
   
   
       12 . The portable hurricane curtain kit according to  claim 11  wherein the mountable retractable curtain rod assembly comprises a first and a second curtain rod, said first and second curtain rods are positioned in close proximity to each other and said flexible curtain is attached to said first curtain rod and said flexible curtain threads between said first and second curtain rods whereby the flexible curtain may be drawn down from the curtain rods to cover said opening.  
   
   
       13 . The portable hurricane curtain according to  claim 12  wherein the curtain assembly further comprises at least one torsion spring for biasing at least one curtain rod in a rotary direction tending to wind said curtain onto said curtain rod when the curtain is allowed to move upward, said spring having a movable end connected to said curtain rod and a stationary end.  
   
   
       14 . The portable hurricane curtain kit according to  claim 13  wherein the curtain assembly further comprises at least one torsion spring for biasing at least one curtain rod in a rotary direction tending to wind said curtain onto said curtain rod when the curtain is allowed to move upward, said spring having a movable end connected to said curtain rod and a stationary end.  
   
   
       15 . The portable hurricane curtain according to  claim 14  wherein said stationary end of said curtain rod is attached to a frame surrounding said opening being covered by said hurricane curtain.  
   
   
       16 . The portable hurricane curtain according to  claim 15  wherein said stationary end of said curtain rod is attached to said portable frame surrounding said opening being covered by said hurricane curtain.  
   
   
       17 . The portable hurricane curtain according to  claim 16  further comprising a draw bar affixed along the lower edge of said hurricane curtain, whereby said hurricane curtain may be drawn down from said curtain rod assembly by lowering said drawbar.  
   
   
       18 . The portable hurricane curtain according to  claim 17  wherein the curtain assembly is attached to the top of said frame.  
   
   
       19 . The portable hurricane curtain according to  claim 18  further comprising a pair of stops positioned on opposite sides of said frame for stopping the draw bar from overextending.  
   
   
       20 . The portable hurricane curtain according to  claim 19  further comprising latches located at the bottom of said frame whereby said drawbar attaches when said curtain is in said extended position.  
   
   
       21 . The portable hurricane curtain according to  claim 20  further comprising a stabilizer bar that is in communication with said hurricane curtain and said mountable retractable curtain rod assembly whereby said stabilizer bar connects to said rigid rods positioned at the lower portion of said frame on opposite sides of said curtain to further stabilize the hurricane curtain.  
   
   
       22 . A hurricane curtain comprising: 
 a mountable retractable curtain rod assembly;    a flexible curtain in direct communication with said mountable retractable curtain rod assembly whereby said curtain unwinds to cover an opening that said curtain is positioned in front of and said opening is revealed when said curtain is wound up;    said flexible curtain comprising a pocket of material that contains a solid material located on at least two opposite edges of said curtain; and    a frame configured to entrap said rigid material in said pocket of material when in the un-retracted position.    
   
   
       23 . The hurricane curtain according to  claim 22  wherein said curtain assembly further comprises at least one torsion spring for biasing at least one curtain rod in a rotary direction tending to wind said curtain onto said curtain rod when said curtain is allowed to move upward, said spring having a movable end connected to said curtain rod and a stationary end.  
   
   
       24 . The hurricane curtain according to  claim 23  wherein said stationary end of said curtain rod is attached to a frame surrounding said opening being covered by said hurricane curtain.  
   
   
       25 . The hurricane curtain according to  claim 23  further comprising a draw bar affixed along the lower edge of said hurricane curtain, whereby said hurricane curtain may be drawn down from said curtain rod assembly by lowering said drawbar.  
   
   
       26 . The hurricane curtain according to  claim 25  further comprising latches located at the bottom of said frame whereby said drawbar attaches when said curtain is in said extended position.  
   
   
       27 . The hurricane curtain according to  claim 22  wherein said frame comprises elastromatic material that can be compressed and recoiled back into shape by said solid material located on at least two opposite edges of said curtain is drawn inward when said curtain is struck by a projectile.  
   
   
       28 . The hurricane curtain according to  claim 22  wherein said solid material is a rope.  
   
   
       29 . The hurricane curtain according to  claim 22  further comprising a separate frame that fits said frame configured to entrap said rigid material in said pocket of material when in the un-retracted position wherein said separate frame is attached to the structure and said frame is configured to entrap said rigid material is fastened to said separate frame.