Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to protective coverings and, more particularly, to ballistic curtains and shades fabricated from anti-ballistic fabrics that are selectively deployable over openings and open areas for protection against discharged ballistic projectiles.

Background

[0002] Protection for facility occupants during active shooter situations is of paramount importance until the shooter stops and flees or is apprehended. The more frequent occurrence of intruders in schools, businesses, government facilities, and the like has highlighted safety needs for people working or using such facilities. Intruders these days are armed with various versions of high powered rifles and explosive devices that do tremendous damage as well as make most locking devices ineffective. Facilities are constantly attempting to prevent an intruder from entering classrooms, offices, patient areas and the like. When dealing with an intruder, many places go into a lockdown situation wherein people shelter in place at their location. On-premises security personnel, if utilized, can respond rapidly, but outside responders take more time before they can reach the facility and deal with the situation. Keeping the occupants of the facility safe from the intruder as soon and as easily as possible is a critical priority while waiting for responders as well as after responders are on the scene. Rapid and effective methods for separating facility occupants from an assailant, as well as protection from penetration of projectiles, is needed to protect the occupants until the situation is diffused. Summary of the Disclosure

[0003] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a ballistic curtain for covering an opening of a facility is disclosed. The ballistic curtain may include a guide track mounted above the opening, a ballistic curtain sheet fabricated from an anti- ballistic fabric, and a plurality of hooks connecting the ballistic curtain sheet to the guide track so that the ballistic curtain sheet hangs from the guide track. The plurality of hooks may be slidably received by the guide track so that the ballistic curtain sheet is movable between a retracted position where the ballistic curtain sheet is stored and a deployed position where the ballistic curtain sheet is extended to cover the opening.

[0004] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a ballistic curtain for covering an opening of a facility is disclosed. The ballistic curtain may include a head rail mounted above the opening, a ballistic curtain sheet fabricated from an anti- ballistic fabric and having an upper edge connected to the head rail, a bottom rail connected to a bottom edge of the ballistic curtain sheet, a cord guide mounted to the head rail, and a rollup cord having a first end connected to the head rail. The rollup cord may be wrapped around the bottom rail and have a second end threaded through the cord guide. When the second end of the rollup cord is pulled away from the head rail, the rollup cord may rotate the bottom rail in a first direction so that the ballistic curtain sheet rolls up onto the bottom rail. When the second end of the rollup cord is free to move toward the top rail, the bottom rail may be free to rotate in a second direction that is opposite the first direction to unroll the ballistic curtain sheet from the bottom rail.

[0005] In a further aspect of the present disclosure, a ballistic curtain for covering an opening of a facility is disclosed. The ballistic curtain may include a head rail mounted above the opening, a ballistic curtain sheet fabricated from an anti-ballistic fabric and comprising a curtain sheet upper portion with an upper edge connected to the head rail and a curtain sheet lower portion, a center rail connected to a bottom edge of the curtain sheet upper portion and to an upper edge of the curtain sheet lower portion, a bottom rail connected to a bottom edge of the curtain sheet lower portion, a cord guide mounted to the head rail, and a rollup cord having a first end connected to the head rail, wherein the rollup cord is wrapped around the center rail and has a second end threaded through the cord guide. When the second end of the rollup cord is pulled away from the head rail, the rollup cord may rotate the center rail in a first direction so that the curtain sheet upper portion and the curtain sheet lower portion roll up onto the center rail. When the second end of the rollup cord is free to move toward the top rail, the center rail may be free to rotate in a second direction that is opposite the first direction to unroll the curtain sheet upper portion and the curtain sheet lower portion from the center rail.

[0006] In a yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a ballistic curtain for covering an opening of a facility is disclosed. The ballistic curtain may include a head rail mounted above the opening, a ballistic curtain sheet fabricated from an anti-ballistic fabric and having an upper edge connected to the head rail, a bottom rail connected to a bottom edge of the ballistic curtain sheet, a strap winding mechanism proximate the head rail, and a rollup strap having a first end connected to the bottom rail and a second end connected to the strap winding mechanism. When the strap winding mechanism is operated in a first direction, the rollup strap may be wound onto the strap winding mechanism and may raise the bottom rail toward the head rail, and the ballistic curtain sheet may be constrained by the rollup strap to gather on top of the bottom rail in a pile. When the strap winding mechanism is operated in a second direction opposite the first direction, the rollup strap may unwind from the strap winding mechanism and lower the bottom rail away from the head rail, and the ballistic curtain sheet may un-pile from the bottom rail.

[0007] In a still further aspect of the present disclosure, a ballistic curtain for covering an opening of a facility is disclosed. The ballistic curtain may include a head rail mounted above the opening, a ballistic curtain sheet fabricated from an anti-ballistic fabric and having an upper edge connected to the head rail, a bottom rail connected to a bottom edge of the ballistic curtain sheet, a cord guide mounted to the head rail, a plurality of stiffener bars attached to the ballistic curtain sheet, oriented horizontally and spaced vertically along the length of the ballistic curtain sheet, wherein each of the stiffener bars has a guide loop attached thereto, and a rollup cord having a first end connected to the bottom rail and a second end that is threaded through the guide loops of the plurality of stiffener bars and through the cord guide. When the second end of the rollup cord is pulled away from the head rail, the rollup cord may raise the bottom rail toward the head rail and the bottom rail raises the plurality of stiffener bars toward the head rail in succession starting with a bottommost stiffener bar, and the ballistic curtain sheet may be constrained by the guide loops to gather on top of the bottom rail in a pile. When the second end of the rollup cord is free to move toward the top rail, the rollup cord may lower the bottom rail away from the head rail, and the ballistic curtain sheet may un-pile from the bottom rail.

[0008] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a ballistic curtain for covering an opening of a facility is disclosed. The ballistic curtain may include a curtain storage recess defined within a ceiling above the opening and having a recess opening, a head rail mounted within the curtain storage recess, a ballistic curtain sheet fabricated from an anti-ballistic fabric and having an upper edge connected to the head rail, a bottom rail connected to a bottom edge of the ballistic curtain sheet, a trap door connected proximate the recess opening and movable between a closed position wherein the recess opening is covered by the trap door and an open position wherein the recess opening is not covered by the trap door, and a release mechanism connected proximate the recess opening. The release mechanism may engage the trap door when the bottom rail is lifted into the curtain storage recess with the ballistic curtain sheet accumulated on top of the bottom rail and the trap door is moved to the closed position, and the release mechanism may be actuatable to disengage from the trap door to allow the trap door to move to the open position and the bottom rail to drop from the curtain storage recess to deploy the ballistic curtain sheet across the opening.

[0009] Additional aspects are defined by the claims of this patent. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] Fig. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a ballistic curtain in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0011] Fig. 2 is an enlarged isometric view of a portion of a guide track of the ballistic curtain of Fig. 1 ;

[0012] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a hallway with an assailant and the ballistic curtain of Fig. 1 in a stored position;

[0013] Fig. 4 is the perspective view of Fig. 3 with the ballistic curtain in a deployed position;

[0014] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a patient area and the ballistic curtain of Fig. 1 in a stored position;

[0015] Fig. 6 is the perspective view of Fig. 5 with the ballistic curtain in a deployed position;

[0016] Fig. 7 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a ballistic curtain in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0017] Fig. 8 is a side schematic illustration of the ballistic curtain of Fig. 7 in an unrolled position;

[0018] Fig. 9 is the side schematic illustration of Fig. 8 with the ballistic curtain in a partially rolled up position;

[0019] Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a patient area and the ballistic curtain of Fig. 7 in a rolled up position;

[0020] Fig. 11 is the perspective view of Fig. 10 with the ballistic curtain in an unrolled position;

[0021] Fig. 12 is a front view of another alternative embodiment of a ballistic curtain in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0022] Fig. 13 is a side schematic illustration of the ballistic curtain of Fig. 12 in an unrolled position;

[0023] Fig. 14 is the side schematic illustration of Fig. 13 with the ballistic curtain in a partially rolled up position; [0024] Fig. 15 is a front view of a further alternative embodiment of a ballistic curtain in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0025] Fig. 16 is a side schematic illustration of the ballistic curtain of Fig. 15 in an unrolled position;

[0026] Fig. 17 is the side schematic illustration of Fig. 16 with the ballistic curtain in a partially rolled up position;

[0027] Fig. 18 is a front view of yet another alternative embodiment of a ballistic curtain in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0028] Fig. 19 is a side schematic illustration of the ballistic curtain of Fig. 18 in a lowered position;

[0029] Fig. 20 is the side schematic illustration of Fig. 19 with the ballistic curtain in a partially retracted position;

[0030] Fig. 21 is a front schematic illustration of a cord lock of the ballistic curtain of Fig. 18 in a locked position;

[0031] Fig. 22 is the front schematic illustration of Fig. 21 with the cord lock in an unlocked position;

[0032] Fig. 23 is a front view of a still further embodiment of a ballistic curtain in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0033] Fig. 24 is a side schematic illustration of the ballistic curtain of Fig. 23 in retracted and stored position;

[0034] Fig. 25 is the side schematic illustration of Fig. 24 with the ballistic curtain in a lowered position;

[0035] Fig. 26 is a schematic plan view of a portion of a facility in which ballistic curtains in accordance with the present disclosure where the ballistic curtains are not deployed; and

[0036] Fig. 27 is the schematic plan view of Fig. 26 with the ballistic curtains deployed.

Detailed Description

[0037] Figs. 1-6 illustrate an embodiment of a ballistic curtain 10 that may be suspended from a ceiling or a header of an opening. The ballistic curtain 10 may be pulled to one side and stored normally, and then pulled across a person or area when necessary for protection against an assailant discharging projectiles.

Referring to Fig. 1, the ballistic curtain 10 may include a generally rectangular ballistic curtain sheet 12 hanging from a guide track 14 by a plurality of hooks 16. The ballistic curtain sheet 12 is fabricated from an anti -ballistic fabric that is resistant to penetration by projectiles. Such anti -ballistic fabrics are discussed in greater detail below. The ballistic curtain sheet 12 may include an upper sheet portion 18 that may be, but is not necessarily, made of the anti-ballistic fabric. A plurality of holes 20 proximate an upper edge 22 of the ballistic curtain sheet 12 may receive corresponding ones of the hooks 16 to suspend the ballistic curtain sheet 12 from the guide track 14. The holes 20 may be reinforced by corresponding grommets 24 and the hooks 16 may have sufficient strength to avoid bending when the ballistic curtain sheet 12 is impacted by projectiles.

[0038] Fig. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the guide track 14 and the hooks 16 that are configured to move relative to the guide track 14. The guide track 14 may be generally rectangular in cross-section with inwardly extending support flanges 30 defining a hook travel gap 32 in the bottom of the guide track 14. As illustrated, the hook 16 is coupled to a trolley 34 disposed within the guide track 14. The hook 16 may hang from the trolley 34 by a swivel coupling 36 that extends through the hook travel gap 32 and allows the hook 16 to swivel relative to the trolley 34 and the guide track 14 as the ballistic curtain 10 is retracted and deployed. Rollers 38 may be pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the trolley 34. Each roller 38 may rest on one of the support flanges 30 to suspend the trolley 34 in the guide track 14. In alternative embodiments, the trolley 34 may be configured with non-rotatable structures that rest on the support flanges 30 and have a relatively low friction coefficient so that the trolleys 34 can slide along the support flanges 30 with minimal resistance to facilitate deployment of the ballistic curtain 10.

[0039] The ballistic curtain sheet 12 may be fabricated from an appropriate anti- ballistic material or combination of anti-ballistic and generally non-protective materials that provides a desired level of protection from projectiles and other conditions that are contemplated to occur during dangerous situations at a facility while still providing the necessary flexibility to be rolled up or folded when the ballistic curtain 10 is retracted and stored. In some embodiments, the ballistic curtain sheet 12 may be woven from fibers made from or infused with materials having anti-ballistic properties. Such materials may include Kevlar ^® , Lexan ^® , Tensylon ^® , Nomex® (fire and heat resistance), Dacron, Twaron ^® , boron and other materials that may provide the required level of ballistic protection for a particular implementation of ballistic curtains in accordance with the present disclosure. [0040] The ballistic curtain sheet 12 may be fabricated solely from anti-ballistic fabric in a single layer or in multiple integrated layers, or may be fabricated with layers of non-protective fabrics integrated with a layer or layers of anti-ballistic fabric. In one embodiment, due to coarseness of some anti-ballistic material sheets, a non-protective outer layer may form a pocket with the anti-ballistic material sheet disposed within and sewn, adhered or otherwise attached to the interior so the anti-ballistic material sheet does not drop to the bottom of the pocket. The anti-ballistic material sheet could have a sprayed-on surface coating or other type of outer shell or covering to smooth the surfaces of the anti-ballistic curtain sheet 12. In alternative embodiments, the ballistic curtain sheet 12 may have additional anti-ballistic elements integrated with the anti-ballistic and/or non- protective fabrics. Such anti-ballistic elements may have any appropriate shape to form a protective pattern on the ballistic curtain sheet 12. For example, anti- ballistic plates that are rectangular, circular, triangular or other geometric shapes may be used. Such anti-ballistic plates may be woven or stitched into the fabric forming the ballistic curtain sheet 12, or adhered or otherwise affixed to a surface of the fabric sheet. In other embodiments, the additional anti-ballistic elements may be elongated rectangular strips that are arranged horizontally or vertically on the fabric sheet. In any form, however, the anti-ballistic elements will be arranged so that ballistic curtain sheet 12 can be folded or rolled up for storage and readily deployed when necessary during an emergency situation. For example, the ballistic curtain sheet 12 of Figs. 1-6 may have vertically oriented anti-ballistic strips extending from the upper edge 22 to a bottom edge, and spaced so that the ballistic curtain sheet 12 can be folded up as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

[0041] The particular arrangement and anti-ballistic properties of the ballistic curtain sheet 12 may be dictated by predetermined specifications for resistance to impact by projectiles. The anti -ballistic property specifications can relate to the type of projectile, the size and weight of the projectile, the sharpness or bluntness of the projectile, the frequency and number of impacts that must be resisted, and the like. The specifications used in the design may be based on published anti- ballistic and armor standards issued by authoritative bodies. Such recognized standards may include United States or foreign military standards, National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standards, VP AM (Europe) standards, GOST (Russia) standards, or other published standards. Of course, the specifications for a particular implementation may be determined outside of published standards as may be dictated by the conditions of threats expected to be encountered at a given facility.

[0042] Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate an implementation of the ballistic curtain 10 in a hallway 50 to segregate occupants of a facility from an armed assailant 52. The ballistic curtain 10 may be installed by mounting the guide track 14 to a ceiling 54 in the hallway 50 where it would be convenient to isolate the assailant 52 while covering the retreat of the occupants. When the ballistic curtain 10 is not in use as shown in Fig. 3, the ballistic curtain sheet 12 may be pulled towards one wall 56 in the hallway 50 and secured in place by a fastening device 58, such as a storage strap 58 as shown, until needed. The fastening device 58 may have a quick release feature 60, such as a snap 60 or a Velcro strap, that is strong enough to retain the ballistic curtain sheet 12 in the retracted position, but provides minimal resistance when the fastening device 58 or the ballistic curtain sheet 12 is pulled during an emergency situation. The trolleys 34 (Fig. 2) may move freely within the guide tracks 14 so that there is also minimal resistance as the hooks 16 move along with the ballistic curtain sheet 12. With the fastening device 58 released, the ballistic curtain sheet 12 is pulled across the hallway 50 to the opposite wall 62 to separate the occupants from the assailant 52 as shown in Fig. 4. Projectiles discharged by the weapon of the assailant 52 will be slowed down at a minimum, and optimally be stopped, by the ballistic curtain sheet 12. If necessary, the ballistic curtain sheet 12 may be weighted at the bottom so that the ballistic curtain sheet 104 is taut when it hangs across the hallway 50 to resist flapping or otherwise moving and allowing projectiles having sufficient momentum to pass when impacted by the projectiles. Alternatively, a bottom guide track (not shown) similar to the guide track 14 may be installed in the floor and secure the bottom edge of the in place when the ballistic curtain sheet 12 is impacted by a projectile. If the assailant 52 continues to pursue the occupants, the deployed ballistic curtain 10 will impede the progress of the assailant 52 along the hallway 50 to allow additional time for the occupants to escape.

[0043] Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate an implementation where the ballistic curtain 10 can isolate a protected area 70 of the facility, such as a patient room or examination area as shown, an office, a conference room or a classroom, from other areas of the facility. This implementation may be preferable where the occupants of the protected area 70 are immobile or should shelter in place instead of attempting to retreat from the assailant 52. Referring to Fig. 5, in the illustrated implementation the guide track 14 is mounted to a ceiling 72 in the protected area 70, which may include a patient bed 82, conference table, desks or other furniture, and has bends 74 allowing the guide track 14 to follow the contours of the walls 76, 78, 80 of the protected area 70. The ballistic curtain 10 is retracted to a comer by the sidewall 76 and the back wall 80 during normal occupancy of the protected area 70. The ballistic curtain 10 may hang loosely as shown, or may be retained by a fastening device such as the storage strap 58 as discussed above. In an emergency situation, the free end of the ballistic curtain sheet 12 may be pulled around the protected area 70 and the occupants of the protected area 70 to shield the protected area 70 from projectiles coming from multiple directions around the protected area 70. As discussed above, the ballistic fabric of the ballistic curtain sheet 12 will slow down or optimally stop the projectiles, and will make an impediment to the assailant 52 entering the protected area 70. [0044] The embodiments illustrated in Figs. 1-6 and described herein are manually deployed by occupants by pulling the ballistic curtain sheet 12 along the guide track 14. In alternate embodiments, deployment of the ballistic curtain 10 may be partially or fully automated. For example, the ballistic curtain 10 may include drape hardware (not shown) as is commonly known with a mechanism that will deploy the ballistic curtain sheet 12 along the guide track 14 when an occupant pulls a pull cord. In other implementations, the ballistic curtain 10 may be motorized to deploy the ballistic curtain sheet 12. A motor (not shown) of the ballistic curtain 10 may be actuated by a switch proximate the ballistic curtain 10 or by a remote actuation mechanism that may control the deployment of several ballistic curtains 10 simultaneously. Further alternative deployment mechanisms are contemplated by the inventor.

[0045] Figs. 7-11 illustrate an alternate embodiment of a ballistic curtain 100 that may hang from a ceiling 102 and be rolled up during normal periods when not needed for protection. Referring to Fig. 7, in the illustrated embodiment the ballistic curtain 100 includes a ballistic curtain sheet 104 attached to and suspended from the ceiling 102 by a head rail 106. As shown, the head rail 106 may be installed within a curtain storage recess 108 built into the ceiling 102 so that the ballistic curtain sheet 104 may be stored within curtain storage recess 108. The curtain storage recess 108 may include a door (not shown) that closes when the ballistic curtain sheet 104 is stored within the curtain storage recess 108 to conceal the opening of the curtain storage recess 108. The ballistic curtain 100 further includes a bottom rail 110 attached at a bottom end of the ballistic curtain sheet 104. The bottom rail 110 serves as part of the mechanism for rolling up the ballistic curtain sheet 104, and may be weighted so that the ballistic curtain sheet 104 is taut when it hangs in the unrolled position to resist the impacts of the projectiles.

[0046] The rollup mechanism for the ballistic curtain sheet 104 may include rollup cords 112, 114 disposed on either side of the ballistic curtain sheet 104. In alternative embodiments, the rollup cords 112, 114 may be positioned inward of the lateral edges of the ballistic curtain sheet 104. In other embodiments, the rollup cords 112, 114 may be straps, ribbons or other tension structures that can rotate the bottom rail 110 to wind up the ballistic curtain sheet 104. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the first rollup cord 112 may have a first end 116 attached to the head rail 106 and wrapped around the bottom rail 110, and have a second end 118 threaded through a first cord guide 120 and hanging down along the side of the ballistic curtain sheet 104. The second rollup cord 114 may similarly be attached to the head rail 106, wrap around the bottom rail 110, and have a second end 122 threaded through a second cord guide 124 and the first cord guide 120 and hang down along the side of the ballistic curtain sheet 104 with the second end 118 of the first rollup cord 112. The rollup mechanism for the ballistic curtain sheet 104 may further include a cord lock mechanism 126 that engages the rollup cords 112,

114 to hold the ballistic curtain sheet 104 in place, particularly when the ballistic curtain sheet 104 is rolled up and the bottom rail 110 is proximate the head rail 106. For example, the cord lock mechanism 126 in the illustrated embodiment is a cleat 126 that may be mounted on a wall proximate the ballistic curtain 100 and around which the second ends 118, 122 of the rollup cords 112, 114 may be wrapped and tied. Other types of cord lock mechanisms that may be used to engage and lock the rollup cords 112, 114 are illustrated and described hereinafter, and others will be apparent to those skilled in the art as having application with ballistic curtains in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0047] As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the rollup cords 112, 114 have been loosened to allow the bottom rail 110 to drop and unroll the ballistic curtain sheet 104 to the unrolled position. To roll up the ballistic curtain sheet 104 on the bottom rail 110 and toward the head rail 106, the rollup cords 112, 114 may be released from the cord lock mechanism 126 and the cord ends 118, 122 may be pulled away from the head rail 106 to raise the bottom rail 110. As the rollup cords 112, 114 are pulled through the cord guides 120, 124, the bottom rail 110 rotates clockwise as shown in Fig. 9 so that the ballistic curtain sheet 104 is rolled up onto the bottom rail 110. If necessary, structures may be provided on the bottom rail 110 and/or the rollup cords 112, 114 to ensure that the bottom rail 110 rotates when the rollup cords 112, 114 are pulled. For example, the rollup cords 112, 114 may be beaded chains, and the bottom rail 110 may have corresponding recesses or teeth configured to receive the beads of the beaded chains for positive engagement and application of torque to the bottom rail 110 to rotate the bottom rail 110 when the beaded chains are pulled. Other structures facilitating the application of torque to the bottom rail 110 are contemplated. In other alternative embodiments, a motor, such as that illustrated and described in relation to Figs. 15- 17, may be installed in the curtain storage recess 108 to wind up the rollup cords 112, 114 onto spools. Once the ballistic curtain sheet 104 is rolled up to the head rail 106, the rollup cords 112, 114 can be reengaged by the cord lock mechanism 126 to hold the bottom rail 110 and the ballistic curtain sheet 104 in the rolled up position.

[0048] Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate the ballistic curtain 100 implemented in the hallway 50 discussed previously in relation to Figs. 3 and 4. The head rail 106 of the ballistic curtain 100 is mounted to the ceiling 54, which may or may not include a curtain storage recess 108 as discussed above. The cord lock mechanism 126 in the form of the cleat 126 may be mounted to the wall 62 in a location providing ready access for an occupant of the facility. As shown in Fig. 10, the rollup cords 112, 114 of the ballistic curtain 100 are pulled down until the ballistic curtain sheet 104 is rolled up onto the bottom rail 110, and then wrapped around and tied to the cleat 126. When a dangerous situation is created by the assailant 52, an occupant unties the rollup cords 112, 114 from the cleat 126 to allow the rollup cords 112, 114 to feed through the cord guides 120, 124 and allow the bottom rail 110 to drop and unroll the ballistic curtain sheet 104 to the unrolled position shown in Fig. 11 to create a barrier in the hallway 50.

[0049] Figs. 12-14 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a rollup-type ballistic curtain 130 in which elements corresponding to elements of the ballistic curtain 100 are identified using the same reference numerals. Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, a ballistic curtain sheet is formed by a curtain sheet upper portion 132 that is attached to and hangs from the head rail 106, a curtain sheet lower portion 134 having the bottom rail 110 attached thereto at a bottom end, and a center rail 136 to which both curtain sheet portions 132, 134 are attached. The rollup cords 112, 114 are installed in a similar manner as discussed above, but are wrapped around the center rail 136 instead of the bottom rail 110. The cleat 126 or other type of hooking device may be mounted on the wall as illustrated and described above. In this embodiment, however, the rollup cords 112, 114 may have a ring 138 tied thereto that will slip onto the cleat 126 or other hooking device to retain the ballistic curtain 130 in its rolled up position.

[0050] With this arrangement, when the ring 138 and, correspondingly, the rollup cords 112, 114, are pulled away from the head rail 106, the center rail 136 rotates in the clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 14. Due to the positioning of the center rail 136, both curtain sheet portions 132, 134 are rolled up onto or unrolled from the center rail 136 is the rollup cords 112, 114 are pulled away from the head rail 106 or released to allow the ballistic curtain 130 to be deployed. In this embodiment, the bottom rail 110 may move approximately twice the distance in the ballistic curtain 130 as it will in the ballistic curtain 100 for the same amount of displacement of the rollup cords 112, 114 toward or away from the head rail 106. The ring 138 may be hooked onto the cleat 126 when the ballistic curtain 130 is rolled to the rolled up position. When the ballistic curtain 130 is deployed in an emergency situation, the ring 138 may be pulled out of engagement with the cleat 126 or hooking device quickly and easily, and released to allow the ballistic curtain 100 to drop to the unrolled position due to the weight of the bottom rail 110, the curtain sheet portions 132, 134 and the center rail 136. In alternative embodiments, the cleat 126 or the hooking device may have an electronic release mechanism that is actuated to disengage the ring 138 an allow the ballistic curtain 100 to unroll. The electronic release mechanism may be triggered by a switch that is thrown by an occupant, or may be triggered remotely, such as by an alarm system, so that ballistic curtains 130 throughout the facility may be deployed simultaneously. As with other elements of ballistic curtains in accordance with the present disclosure, those skilled in the art will understand that these release mechanisms are interchangeable with other release mechanisms of ballistic curtains illustrated and described herein. [0051] A further alternative embodiment of a ballistic curtain 140 is illustrated in Figs. 15-17. The ballistic curtain 140 may include the ballistic curtain sheet 104, the head rail 106 and the bottom rail 110 connected to each other as described above. As an alternative to the rollup cords 112, 114, the ballistic curtain 140 may include a plurality of rollup straps 142 that are arranged inward of the lateral edges of the ballistic curtain sheet 104. As shown in Figs. 15 and 16, each of the rollup straps 142 may have a front strap 142F and a rear strap 142R with ends attached to front and rear sides, respectively, of the bottom rail 110, which may have a rectangular cross-section in this embodiment. In this embodiment, as opposed to manually pulling the rollup straps 142F, 142R to manipulate the position of the ballistic curtain 140, a motor 146 may be provided in the curtain storage recess 108 for the rollup straps 142F, 142R to be wound up onto and unwound from corresponding spools 148F, 148R, respectively. The front spools 148F may be mounted on and axially spaced along a driveshaft 150F that is mounted to and extends from the motor 146. The motor 146 may be mounted on the head rail 106 or mounted on an inner wall of the curtain storage recess 108 depending on the particular implementation. The rear spools 148R may be mounted on and axially spaced along a rear driveshaft 15 OR that may be parallel and spaced from the front driveshaft 150R. In the illustrated embodiment, each pair of spools 148F, 148R may have external gears (not shown) that mesh so that rotation of the front driveshaft 150F by the motor 146 will cause corresponding rotation of the rear driveshaft 150R and the rear spools 148R. Shaft bearings 152 and/or an end bearing 154 may be mounted on the head rail 106 to support the driveshafts 150F, 150R and the weight of the ballistic curtain sheet 104. The rollup straps 142F, 142R may be threaded through corresponding strap slots 156F, 156R in the head rail 106 and attached to the corresponding spool 148F, 148R.

[0052] The motor 146 may be operated by a corresponding motor control or switch (not shown) disposed in an appropriate location for access by a facility occupant to deploy the ballistic curtain 140 during an emergency. The motor control is actuatable to cause the motor 146 to rotate the driveshafts 150F, 150R in either direction to wind the rollup straps 142F, 142R onto or off of the spools 148F, 148R. When the motor 146 winds the rollup straps 142F, 142R onto the spools 148F, 148F to raise the bottom rail 110, the ballistic curtain sheet 104 may gather on top of the bottom rail 110 as shown in Fig. 17. The rollup straps 142F, 142R may constrain the ballistic curtain sheet 104 to generally stay within the width of the bottom rail 110 as the ballistic curtain sheet 104 piles up above the bottom rail 110. Those skilled in the art will understand that the motor 146 is optional, and manual means may be implemented to cause rotation of the driveshafts 15 OF, 15 OR and the spools 148F, 148R to raise and lower the ballistic curtain sheet 104. In some implementations, the driveshaft 150F may be connected to the motor 146 by a quick release mechanism (not shown) that may be disengaged when a corresponding release cord is pulled to allow the driveshafts 150F, 150R to freely rotate relative to the motor 146 and allow the ballistic curtain sheet 104 to drop under its weight and the weight of the bottom rail 110 to the deployed position. Alternatively, arrangements such as the rollup cords 112, 114 as described above may be implemented with the rollup straps 142F, 142R in the ballistic curtain 140. It is further contemplated that the motor 146, the spools 148F, 148R and the driveshafts 150F, 150R may be used to manipulate the rollup cords 112, 114 in the embodiments illustrated and described above.

[0053] An additional embodiment of a ballistic curtain 160 is illustrated in Figs. 18-22. The ballistic curtain 160 may include a ballistic curtain sheet 104, a head rail 106 and a bottom rail 110 connected to each other as described above. As shown in Figs. 18 and 19, a plurality of lift cords 162 may have lower ends that are attached to the bottom rail 110, extend upward to the head rail 106, and be threaded through corresponding cord guides 164 and a cord lock 166 that functions as the cord lock mechanism in this embodiment. The cord lock 166 is described in further detail below. The ballistic curtain sheet 104 may include a plurality of horizontally oriented stiffener bars 168 attached to and vertically spaced along the surface of the ballistic curtain sheet 104 on the same side as the lift cords 162.

Each of the stiffener bars 168 may have a plurality of guide loops 170, with each guide loop 170 corresponding in position to one of the lift cords 162. The lift cords 162 are threaded through the corresponding guide loops 170 so that the stiffener bars 168 remain in close proximity to the lift cords 162 as the ballistic curtain 160 is raised and lowered. Consequently, when the lift cords 162 are pulled away from the head rail 106 to raise the bottom rail 110 as shown in Fig. 20, the bottommost stiffener bars 168 are pushed upward by the bottom rail 110 but are held substantially vertically aligned by the guide loops 170 is the lower portion of the ballistic curtain sheet 104 slackens. The slack portion of the ballistic curtain sheet 104 may form a series of folds 172 so that the ballistic curtain sheet 104 stacks as shown as the bottom rail 110 continues to rise toward the head rail 106. [0054] The cord lock 166 is illustrated in greater detail in Figs. 21 and 22. Referring to Fig. 21, the cord lock 166 may include a cord lock bracket 174 with a fixed shaft 176 mounted thereto. The cord lock 166 may further include a floating shaft 178 disposed and slidable within a cord lock channel 180. During installation, the lift cords 162 are threaded over the fixed shaft 176, between the fixed shaft 176 and the floating shaft 178, and out the bottom of the cord lock bracket 174. In the locked position shown in Fig. 21, the lift cords 162 have engaged the floating shaft 178 to move the floating shaft 178 upward within the cord lock channel 180 until the lift cords 162 are pinched between the shafts 176, 178 to prevent the bottom rail 110 from being lowered further. The weight of the bottom rail 110 maintains tension in the lift cords 162 so that the floating shaft 178 is forced upward in the cord lock channel 180 and the cord lock 166 remains locked. When lift cords 162 are pulled downward and inward toward the ballistic curtain sheet 104 is shown in Fig. 22, the floating shaft 178 drops within the cord lock channel 180 to disengage the cord lock 166. As long as the lift cords 162 do not reengage and lift the floating shaft 178, the lift cords 162 are free to pass between the shafts 176, 178 is the ballistic curtain 160 drops toward the extended position due to the weight of the bottom rail 110. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the cord lock 166 may be implemented in the embodiments of ballistic curtains previously discussed and illustrated herein.

[0055] A still further embodiment of a ballistic curtain 190 in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrate in Figs. 23-25. In this embodiment, the ballistic curtain sheet 104 does not have a retraction mechanism, and instead is hand loaded into the curtain storage recess 108 or a storage box mounted to the ceiling during installation or after being deployed during an emergency situation. The ballistic curtain 190 may include a trap door 192 connected at the curtain storage recess 108 by hinges 194 for rotation between closed and open positions. Fig. 24 illustrates the ballistic curtain 190 in a retracted and stored position. The bottom rail 110 has been lifted into the curtain storage recess 108, and the ballistic curtain sheet 104 has accumulated on top of the bottom rail 110. The trap door 192 has been rotated to a closed position and is held closed by a release mechanism 196. The release mechanism 196 may include a locking finger 198 that is extended to retain the trap door 192 in the closed position. The release mechanism 196 may be a solenoid or pneumatic operated device that may be remotely operated by switch or remote system to extend and retract the locking finger 198. In other embodiments, the release mechanism 196 may be other types of manual or automated release mechanisms. As shown in Fig. 25, when the release mechanism 196 is actuated to retract the locking finger 198, the trap door 192 is free to open by rotation about the hinges 194 and the bottom rail 110 drops to extend the ballistic curtain sheet 104 to the extended position.

Industrial Applicability

[0056] The ballistic curtains in accordance with the present disclosure facilitate rapid deployment of protective barriers for occupants of a facility in emergency situation without relying on automated detection of conditions indicating the emergency situation and corresponding triggering of deployment mechanisms for the protective barriers. Figs. 26 and 27 illustrate one exemplary implementation of ballistic curtains in accordance with the present disclosure in the hallway 50. Fig. 26 illustrates the hallway 50 of the facility without deployable ballistic curtains to show potential vulnerability of occupants 200 of the facility to the assailant 50.

The hallway 50 provides an unobstructed shooting field with clear line of sight to the occupants 200 as they flee from rooms 202 into the hallway 50. The assailant 52 can also freely fire into rooms 202 with open doors 204 at occupants 200 trapped therein as the assailant proceeds down the hallway 50. Depending on their strength, the assailant 52 may be able to fir through closed doors 204 at the sheltering occupants 200 of the rooms 202.

[0057] Fig. 27 illustrates the hallway 50 having a plurality of ballistic curtains 210 deployed in response to the presence of the assailant 52 in the facility. The ballistic curtains 210 may be any of the ballistic curtains 10, 100, 130, 140, 160, 190 illustrated and described herein, or alternative embodiments thereof. The ballistic curtains 210 may be deployed by the occupants 200 as they flee down the hallway 50, or deployment may be triggered by a central alarm system of the facility. The ballistic curtains 210 extend substantially across the hallway 50 between the walls 56, 62 and are somewhat taught due to the weight of the ballistic curtain sheet and/or the bottom rail to resist movement when impacted by projectiles. Because the lateral edges of the ballistic curtain are generally unconstrained, the occupants 200 may be able to slip relatively freely between an edge of the ballistic curtain sheet and the corresponding wall 56, 62 as they flee from the assailant 52. Eventually, the occupants 200 may be separated from the assailant by multiple ballistic curtains 210. The assailant 52 may have greater difficulty navigating the ballistic curtains 210 due to the awkwardness of any weapons being carried along. This arrangement may reduce or eliminate injuries and fatalities among the occupants 200 in contrast to the unprotected hallway 50 of Fig. 26.

[0058] The ballistic curtain 10 provides manual protection of the occupants in a hallway 50 or a protected area 70 of the facility by simply grasping and pulling the ballistic curtain sheet 12 along the guide track 14 to cover the hallway 50 or protected area 70. For the ballistic curtains 100, 130, 160 utilizing rollup cords 112, 114 or lift cords 162, the ballistic curtain sheets 104 are raised to their retracted and stored positions when not need by simply pulling the cords 112, 114, 162 to roll or raise the bottom rail 110 and engage the cords 112, 114, 162 with the corresponding cord lock mechanism 126, 166. When the emergency situation occurs, the cords 112, 114, 162 are disengaged from the cord lock mechanisms 126, 166 and the ballistic curtain sheets 104 are allowed to drop under their weight and the weight of the bottom rail 110 to their deployed positions. In the case of the ballistic curtain 140, the motor control for the motor 146 is actuated by one of the occupants to engage the motor 146 to lower the ballistic curtain sheet 104 to cover the corresponding opening. In implementations having a quick release mechanism on the driveshaft 150, the ballistic curtain 140 is manually deployed in a similar manner as the ballistic curtains 100, 130, 160 by simply pulling the release cord to allow the ballistic curtain sheet 104 to drop under its weight and the weight of the bottom rail 110 to its deployed position. These various embodiments may provide relatively simple and reliable deployment of protective barriers in emergency situations relative to automated solutions for detecting emergency situation and automatically deploying protective barriers in response.

[0059] While the preceding text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legal scope of protection is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this patent. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims defining the scope of protection.

[0060] It should also be understood that, unless a term was expressly defined herein, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to herein in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term be limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning.