Assembly to lock a storm curtain adjacent to an opening in a building

Abstract

An apparatus for covering an opening in a structure may include spaced rails positioned at opposed sides of the opening. Each rail includes a channel and a is curtain movable along the rails to cover and uncover the opening. A locking bar is attached to one end of the curtain. The locking bar has opposed end portions received in the channels, and a locking channel is positioned close to the ends of each rail to receive the bar. The locking channel is disposed at an angle relative to the channel and the bar is selectively received in the locking channel to lock the curtain in a position covering the opening. In some embodiments the locking bar includes a length that spans the distance between the side rails and is selectively locked in the sill along at least thirty percent of the length.

1 . Apparatus for covering an opening in a structure comprising spaced rails positioned at opposed sides of the opening, each said rail including a channel, a curtain movable along said rails to cover and uncover the opening, a locking bar attached to one end of said curtain, said locking bar having opposed end portions received in said rail channels, and a locking channel positioned proximate the ends of each rail to receive said bar, said locking channel being disposed at an angle relative to said rail channel, said bar being, selectively received in said locking channel to lock said curtain in a position covering the opening.  
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said angle is about twenty degrees.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said locking channel is defined by a first sidewall spaced from a second sidewall by an end wall.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a sill positioned at the bottom of the opening, said locking channel being positioned in said sill.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said locking channel extends at least thirty percent of the lateral length of said sill.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said locking channel extends substantially the entire lateral length of said sill.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said locking bar is biased to rotate relative to said curtain while in said rail channel.  
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said locking channel extends upwardly and inwardly relative to said rail channel.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising at least one derailleur positioned in said sill and adapted to direct said locking bar into said locking channel.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one derailleur is adapted to direct said locking bar into said locking channel during movement of said locking bar into said sill and to prevent said locking bar from entering said locking channel during movement out of said locking bar.  
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 9 , said locking bar includes at least one pin extending laterally from at least one lateral end of said locking bar and said at least one derailleur is positioned at the lateral end of said sill, wherein said pin engages said derailleur when said locking bar enters said sill.  
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said derailleur is pivotally secured in said sill and includes a first leg and a second leg defining a pin receiving channel therebetween, said pin receiving channel facing said rail channel to receive said pin as said locking bar travels into said sill.  
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said locking bar includes a longitudinally extending curtain channel having at least one rib therein, said curtain channel retaining said curtain therein through the intermeshing of said rib with said curtain.  
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said locking bar includes a body portion and a grip portion extending substantially perpendicular from said body portion.  
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said body includes a recess adapted to selectively receive an insert to provide additional weight to said locking bar.  
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said locking bar includes a pair of elongated faces and a pair of opposed edges, wherein said curtain is attached to one of said faces.  
   
   
       17 . A storm curtain assembly adapted to cover a building opening, the assembly comprising, a housing located at the top of the opening, a bottom sill located at the bottom of the opening, a pair of spaced side rails extending from said housing to said sill, a curtain movable to selectively cover and uncover the opening, and a locking bar secured to the bottom of said curtain, said locking bar including a length that spans the distance between said side rails and is selectively locked in said bottom sill along at least thirty percent of said length.  
   
   
       18 . The storm curtain assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein each said side rail includes a vertical channel, said locking bar including end portions that are received therein to guide said locking bar during upward and downward movement.  
   
   
       19 . The storm curtain assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein said bottom sill includes a locking channel that selectively receives said locking bar, such that when said locking bar is positioned in said locking channel, upward movement of said locking bar is prevented.  
   
   
       20 . The storm curtain assembly according to  claim 19  wherein said locking channel extends upwardly and at an angle relative to said vertical channel.  
   
   
       21 . The storm curtain assembly according to  claim 20  wherein said locking channel angle is twenty degrees or less.  
   
   
       22 . The storm curtain assembly according to  claim 19  wherein said locking channel extends along at least thirty percent of said bottom sill.  
   
   
       23 . The storm curtain assembly according to  claim 19  wherein said locking channel extends substantially the entire lateral length of said bottom sill.  
   
   
       24 . The storm curtain assembly according to  claim 19  further comprising a derailleur positioned at each opposed end of said bottom sill and adapted to direct said locking bar into said locking channel during downward movement of said locking bar.  
   
   
       25 . The storm curtain assembly according to  claim 24  wherein said derailleurs are adapted to prevent said locking bar from entering said locking channel during upward movement of said locking bar.  
   
   
       26 . The storm curtain assembly according to  claim 24  wherein said locking bar includes at least one pin that extends laterally from said locking bar to selectively engage said derailleur.  
   
   
       27 . The storm curtain assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein said curtain is crimped to said locking bar.  
   
   
       28 . The storm curtain assembly according to  claim 17 , further comprising a roller in said housing, said curtain being crimped to said roller.  
   
   
       29 . A method of operating a storm curtain to cover an opening in a building bounded by a housing, a bottom sill and a pair of side rails, the method comprising the steps of, providing a locking bar secured to the bottom of the curtain, moving the curtain downward to position the locking bar into the bottom sill, directing the locking bar into alignment with a locking channel in the bottom of the sill, and moving the curtain upward to position the locking bar securely within the locking channel.  
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 29 , further comprising the steps of: moving the curtain downward to cause the locking bar to move out of the locking channel, moving the curtain upward after the locking bar exits the locking channel and contacts a bottom surface of the sill, preventing the locking bar from re-entering the locking channel during upward movement past the locking channel.  
   
   
       31 . A storm curtain assembly adapted to cover a building opening, the assembly comprising, a pair of spaced rails, each said rail including a rail channel, a roller, a curtain carried by said roller, said curtain being movable to selectively cover and uncover the opening upon rotation of said roller, a locking bar secured to an end of said curtain and including opposed end portions received in said rail channels, and a locking channel shaped to receive said locking bar, wherein said locking bar is biased to rotate relative to said curtain while in said rail channel and is selectively received in said locking channel to lock said curtain in a closed position.  
   
   
       32 . The assembly of  claim 31  further comprising a housing positioned at the top of the opening, and a bottom sill positioned at the bottom of the opening, wherein said locking channel is positioned in said sill and said roller is positioned in said housing.