Bottom seals for a horizontal side-rolling door curtain

Abstract

A sideways rollup door with a horizontal side-rolling curtain includes a replaceable bottom seal that is zippered or otherwise removably connected to the curtain at an inclined joint. The inclination of the joint ensures that the joint wraps upon the curtain's take-up roller in an approximate helical pattern so as to prevent the joint from creating a concentrated bulge on the roller. In some cases, there is extra space underneath the roller to provide roll-up room for the bottom seal, which can be relatively thick. Such extra space could be further used to accommodate a seal joint and/or other curtain seams that are not necessarily inclined.

1 . A door for a doorway with a lateral edge, the door comprising:
 a roller extending vertically and mountable in proximity with the lateral edge of the doorway;   a curtain wrapped about the roller such that the roller selectively takes in and pays out the curtain substantially horizontally to respectively open and close the door; and   a bottom seal connected to a lower edge of the curtain, wherein the lower edge is inclined.   
     
     
         2 . The door of  claim 1 , wherein the roller has a major outer periphery upon which the curtain is wrapped when the door is open; however, the bottom seal extends below the major outer periphery of the roller. 
     
     
         3 . The door of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom seal is thicker than the curtain. 
     
     
         4 . The door of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom seal assumes an approximate helical shape when the door is open. 
     
     
         5 . The door of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom seal is connected to the lower edge of the curtain by way of a joint that can be selectively connected and disconnected. 
     
     
         6 . The door of  claim 5 , wherein the joint includes a zipper. 
     
     
         7 . The door of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom seal includes a loop containing an elongate stiffening element. 
     
     
         8 . The door of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom seal is part of a seal assembly comprising an upper piece and the bottom seal, the upper piece is connected to a lower portion of the curtain along a seam, the bottom seal is connected to the upper piece via a separable joint, and the seam and the separable joint are displaced out of co-parallel alignment with each other. 
     
     
         9 . The door of  claim 8 , wherein the seam provides a more permanent connection than does the separable joint. 
     
     
         10 . The door of  claim 1 , further comprising an overhead track and drive unit from which the curtain is suspended, wherein the overhead track and drive unit powers the door open and closed. 
     
     
         11 . The door of  claim 10 , wherein the roller is spring loaded to urge the curtain to wrap about the roller. 
     
     
         12 . A door for a doorway with a lateral edge, the door comprising:
 a roller extending vertically and mountable in proximity with the lateral edge of the doorway;   a curtain connected to the roller such that the roller upon rotating selectively takes in and pays out the curtain substantially horizontally to respectively open and close the door;   a bottom seal; and   a joint connecting the bottom seal to the curtain, wherein the joint is disposed at an incline.   
     
     
         13 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein the roller has a major outer periphery upon which the curtain is wrapped when the door is open; however, the bottom seal extends below the major outer periphery of the roller. 
     
     
         14 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein the bottom seal assumes an approximate helical shape when the door is open. 
     
     
         15 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein the joint includes a zipper. 
     
     
         16 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein the bottom seal is part of a seal assembly comprising an upper piece and the bottom seal, the upper piece is connected to a lower portion of the curtain along a seam, the bottom seal is connected to the upper piece via the joint, and the seam and the joint are displaced out of co-parallel alignment with each other. 
     
     
         17 . The door of  claim 16 , wherein the seam provides a more permanent connection than does the joint. 
     
     
         18 . A door for a doorway with a lateral edge, the door comprising:
 a roller extending vertically and mountable in proximity with the lateral edge of the doorway;   a curtain connected to the roller such that the roller upon rotating selectively takes in and pays out the curtain substantially horizontally to respectively open and close the door; and   a seal assembly comprising an upper piece and a bottom seal, the upper piece is connected to a lower portion of the curtain along a seam, the bottom seal is connected to the upper piece via a separable joint, and the seam and the separable joint are displaced out of co-parallel alignment with each other.   
     
     
         19 . The door of  claim 18 , wherein the roller has a major outer periphery upon which the curtain is wrapped when the door is open; however, the bottom seal extends below the major outer periphery of the roller. 
     
     
         20 . The door of  claim 18 , wherein the separable joint includes a zipper. 
     
     
         21 . The door of  claim 18 , wherein the seam provides a more permanent connection than does the separable joint. 
     
     
         22 . The door of  claim 18 , further comprising an overhead track and drive unit from which the curtain is suspended, wherein the overhead track and drive unit powers the door open and closed. 
     
     
         23 . The door of  claim 18 , wherein the roller is spring loaded to urge the curtain to wrap about the roller. 
     
     
         24 . A door for a doorway with a lateral edge, the door comprising:
 a roller extending vertically and mountable in proximity with the lateral edge of the doorway, the roller includes a major outer periphery;   a curtain wrapped about the roller such that the roller selectively takes in and pays out the curtain substantially horizontally to respectively open and close the door; and   a bottom seal connected to a lower portion of the curtain such that the bottom seal extends below the major outer periphery of the roller.