This invention relates to a curtain divider which is capable of forming a separated or divided space within an overall working or recreational area.

The invention has been developed primarily, though not exclusively, in connection with a curtain divider for use in dividing-up large areas, such as an aircraft hanger, factory floor or a sports hall.

There is a need to be able to create temporary screened-off areas in working areas, such as an aircraft hanger, so that special operations can be carried out which need to be separated from the other operations which are taking place in the general area. This requirement for separation may be so that any potentially hazardous or dangerous materials being used in the screened-off area can be contained and thereby prevented from migrating into the area of the other working operations. Alternatively, it may be desirable to prevent material used in the other working operations from migrating into the screened-off area. One example of a requirement for temporary screening-off of a separate working area comprises painting of an aircraft in a hanger.

Curtain dividers are usually formed of flexible material and are suspended from overhead beams, and can be raised by winch drum arrangements or other suitable lifting devices. Some existing curtains are built-up from a number of longitudinal bands or strips which are arranged one above the other, and hingedly connected to each other along substantially horizontal pivot axes formed in or by the curtain material.

The present invention is concerned with a flexible curtain divider built-up from at least two horizontally extending panels and which is capable of being raised from a lowered operative position to an overhead storage and inoperative position in improved manner.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a flexible curtain divider which can be raised and lowered, and which is capable, when in the lowered position, of forming a separated space within an overall space, and in which the curtain divider comprises: two horizontally extending curtain panels made of flexible material; upper, intermediate and lower elongate horizontally extending supports secured along the top and bottom margins of the curtain panels, and spaced apart vertically from each other when the curtain divider is in the lowered position; vertically extending elongate tensile elements each secured at their lower ends to the lower support and spaced apart horizontally from each other along the length of the curtain divider; an overhead winding device to which the upper ends of the tensile elements are connected, and which is operable to pull the lower support upwardly in order to raise the curtain divider; guides provided on the intermediate support and through which the elongate elements are taken; and, respective actuators arranged on the lower support and operable, as the latter is raised by the tensile elements, to engage the guides on the intermediate support and thereby cause the latter to pivot about its general axis, in order to promote the formation of curtain loops as the curtain is drawn upwardly to a raised inoperative position.

Thus, when the curtain divider is raised to its inoperative position, the panels of the curtain can easily deform into loops of material by virtue of the pivoting of the intermediate elongate support about its axis. The front face of the intermediate support can therefore be caused to pivot through an angle of up to 90° from a generally vertical position towards a substantially horizontal position.

It should be understood that the invention is not restricted to a curtain divider having only two panels, and three elongate supports, and it can have more than two panels and a corresponding number of elongate supports arranged along the upper and lower margins of each panel.

The flexible material from which the panels are made may be a continuous piece of material, to whijph the elongate supports are secured at appropriate positions. Alternatively, individually formed flexible panels can be secured at each margin to the respective supports.

To improve the appearance of the curtain divider, when in the raised inoperative position, pelmets may be arranged which conceal the looped portions of the curtain divider when the latter is raised to its inoperative position.

The winding device may comprise one or more winch drums arranged at suitable spacings along the length of the curtain divider, or it may be formed by a continuous winding axle or shaft.

The elongate tensile elements preferably take the form of tension bands or strips.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a flexible curtain divider which can be raised and lowered, and which is capable, when in the lowered position, of forming a separated space within an overall space, and in which the curtain divider comprises: horizontally extending curtain panels made of flexible material ; horizontally extending supports secured to the panels and spaced apart vertically from each other when the curtain divider is in the lowered position; vertically extending elongate tensile elements each secured at their lower ends to a lowermost one of said supports and spaced apart horizontally from each other along the length of the curtain divider; an overhead winding device to which the upper ends of the tensile elements are connected, and which is operable

to pull the lowermost support upwardly in order to raise the curtain divider; and, guides provided on the supports and through which the elongate elements are taken: in which the arrangement of the elongate supports and the guides are such that, as the lowermost support is raised by the tensile elements, the supports j^re caused to pivot generally about their longitudinal axes as they approach an overhead storage position, and thereby to promote the formation of curtain loops from the curtain panels.

The curtain divider which has been defined above in two aspects of the invention comprises a curtain which can be moved vertically between a lowered and closed operative position and a raised, open inoperative position. However, it should be understood that the features of the invention may also be applied to a curtain divider of the type which can be drawn in a generally horizontal direction between open and closed positions.

Accordingly, in a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a flexible curtain divider which can be drawn between an open position in which two ends of the divider can be moved relatively to a position near to each other and to a closed position in which the two ends are extended apart from each other and joined together by an extended continuous length of flexible curtain divider material, in which the curtain divider comprises: first and second curtain panels which are joined together and which are made of flexible material, the first panel having a free margin to form said first end and said second panel having a free margin to form said second end; end elongate supports secured to the free margins of the panels, and an intermediate elongate support secured along the junction between the first and second panels, said supports being spaced apart from each other along the length of the curtain divider between said first and second

ends when the curtain divider is in the closed position; horizontally extending elongate tensile elements each secured at one end to the end support secured to the second panel and spaced apart vertically from each other throughout the height of the curtain divider; a winding device arranged adjacent to the first end and to which the opposite ends of the tensile elements are connected, and which is operable to draw the support of the second panel towards the support of the first panel; and. guides provided on the intermediate support and through which the elongate elements are taken; in which the arrangement of the elongate supports and the guides are such that, as the supports are drawn towards each other, the supports are caused to pivot generally about their longitudinal axes and thereby to promote the formation of curtain loops from the curtain panels.

Embodiments of curtain divider according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a vertically movable type of curtain divider according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the curtain divider;

Figure 3 is a detailed end view, to an enlarged scale, showing the manner by which the curtain divider can be raised to an inoperative position during which curtain loops are formed;

Figure 4 is a detailed front view showing a tensile lifting element passing through a guide provided on an elongate intermediate horizontal support provided on the cutain divider;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a practical embodiment of curtain divider according to the invention:

Figure 6 is an end view corresponding to the embodiment shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a schematic end view of the embodiment

shown in Figures 5 and 6, when raised to an overhead storage position;

Figure 8 is a view, similar to Figure 5, of another embodiment having an alternative elongate means for raising and lowering the curtain assembly;

Figures 9 to 11 show further practical constructions of overhead winding device for raising and lowering the curtain assembly;

Figure 12 is a detailed view of a roller box converter for guiding the movement of a lifting tape;

Figures 13 and 14 are perspective illustra ions of a floor securement assembly for holding down the lower edge of the curtain assembly to the floor;

Figure 15 is a perspective view from one side of a horizontally movable type of curtain divider according to the invention;

Figure 16 is a detail upper end view of the curtain divider shown in Figure 15; and.

Figure 17 is a schematic plan view of the curtain divider of Figure 15 in the open position.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, there is disclosed an embodiment of a flexible curtain divider which is designated generally by reference 10. and which can be raised and lowered, and is such that, when in the lowered position, it can form a separated or divided space within an overall working or recreational environment.

The curtain divider 10 comprises at least two horizontally extending curtain panels 11 and 12, and which are made of any suitable flexible material.. Conveniently, the panels 11 and 12 are formed from a continuous piece of material .

Horizontally extending elongate supports are provided along the top and bottom margins of the curtain panels, and comprise upper support 13, intermediate support 14 and lower support 15. Vertically extending elongate tensile

elements 16 in the form of tensile bands are each secured at their lower ends 17 to the lower support 15 and are spaced apart horizontally from each other along the length of the curtain divider.

An overhead winding device is mounted on an upper support beam, and in the illustrated schematic embodiment takes the form of a number of winch drums 18 which conveniently are driven by a common electric drive motor. The winch drums 18 are operable to pull the lower support 15 upwardly via the elements 16, in order to raise the curtain divider. Guides 19 are provided on the intermediate support 14 and through which the elongate elements 16 are taken, and similar guides 19 are provided on the upper support 13 also. Evidently, upon winding up of the elements 16 by the drums 18, the curtain divider will be raised by the lower support 15 being drawn upwardly.

Actuators are arranged on the lower support 15, as shown schematically in Figure 3, and take the form of any suitable projecting element 20 which can engage the intermediate support 14 as it is drawn upwardly to meet it, thereby to cause the intermediate support 14 to pivot generally about its longitudinal axis, in order to promote the formation of curtain loops 21 as the curtain divider is drawn upwardly to a raised inoperative position. In the normal operative position of the intermediate support 14, its front face 22 takes up a substan ially vertical position, but as the support 14 is engaged by actuator 20 of the lower support 15. it is caused to pivot through an angle of up to 90° and towards a substantially horizontal position. This promotes the smooth and easy formation of the required loops in the curtain divider material as the curtain divider is raised to the inoperative position.

The illustrated embodiment has two panels 11 and 12 which extend generally longitudinally of the curtain divider 10. but evidently further panels may be provided.

if a greater height of curtain is required, and therefore additional elongate supports will be provided. Further one or more of the supports above intermediate support 14 will be provided with respective guides which can be operated by an actuator on the underlying support, and which co-operate as the curtain divider is drawn upwardly so that each of the intermediate and successive alongate supports can be pivoted through approximately 90° to the horizontal position as the curtain divider rises.

To improve the appearance of the curtain device, when in the raised inoperative position, pelmets 22 are provided on both sides of the overhead structure, so that the looped portions of the curtains can be concealed from view when in the raised position.

In the illustrated embodiment, actuator 20 on the lower support 15 engages guide 19 on the intermediate beam 14. but evidently other means of interengagement could be provided between a lower support and the next successive upward support which it engages, in order to pivot the latter which will then be conveyed further upwards in this state so as to promote loop formation.

A curtain divider as disclosed herein may be used to divide up a factory or other working area, such as an aircraft hanger, or to divide up areas in a sports hall.

Referring now to Figures 5 to 7. this shows a practical embodiment of the invention, in which parts corresponding with those already described are designated by the same reference numerals, but with the addition of 100. There is therefore shown a curtain divider 110, having curtain panels 111 and 112, and which can be raised and lowered under the action of lifting tapes 116, which are taken through ported brackets 119 carried by elongate supports 113, 114 and 115 which are formed from extruded sections having a web portion 119c and cup-shaped portions 119a and 119b which receive pivotally beaded edge margins 130 of the panels.

The manner by which the lifting tapes 116 are guided through the supports 113 to 115 by the ported brackets 119 ensures that each support is caused to pivot through approximately 90° as the curtain panels and the supports are drawn upwardly to the overhead storage position shown in Figure 6. and also by virtue of the interengagement which takes place between successive supports as they are raised to this overhead position. It should be noted particularly that alternate panel sections hang in curtain loops on one side and then on the other side as the assembly is drawn upwardly to the storage position.

Figure 8 shows a similar practical embodiment to that of Figures 5 to 7, but uses a lifting rope 116a.

Figures 9 to 11 show different constructions for raising and lowering the curtain assembly; Figure 12 shows a roller box converter for guiding a lifting tape; and. Figures 13 and 14 show a floor securement assembly for holding down the lower edge of the curtain to the floor. The embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 14 comprise a curtain divider which can be moved vertically between a lowered, closed operative position, and a raised, open inoperative position. However, it should be understood that the features of the invention, as applied to this type of curtain divider, may also be applied to a curtain divider of the type which can be moved in a generally horizontal direction between open and closed positions. A horizontally movable type of curtain divider will therefore now be described with reference to Figures 15 and 16 of the drawings.

Parts corresponding with those already described with reference to Figures 5 to 10 are designated by the same reference numerals, but with the addition of 100 i.e. supports 113 are designated by reference 213.

The major difference between the first and second types of curtain divider to which the invention may be applied comprise the fact that a vertically movable curtain

divider is disclosed in Figures 1 to 14. and a horizontally movable curtain divider is shown in Figures 15 and 16.

The second type of curtain divider shown in Figures 15 and 16 is designated generally by reference 210, and which comprises two horizontally spaced curtain panels 211 and 212 which can be drawn between an open position in which the two ends of the curtain divider are drawr to a position near to each other, and a closed position in which the two ends are separated from each other and joined together by a continuous length of flexible curtain divider material, formed by the panels 211 and 212, and stretched to a substantially taut condition.

The curtain panels 211 and 212 are joined together, and the first panel 211 has a free margin 221 which forms the first end of the curtain divider, and the second panel 212 has a free margin 221 which can form the second end of the curtain divider. In the illustrated arrangement, it may be assumed that the first end of the curtain divider is fixed, whereas the second end can be moved relatively towards and away from the first end during movement of the curtain divider between its open and closed positions.

End elongate supports 213 and 215 are secured to the free margins 220 and 221 respectively of the first and second panels, and these are generally similar in construction to the horizontal elongate supports 113 and 115 shown in Figure 5 to 7. but of course extend vertically. An intermediate elongate vertical support 214 is secured along the junction between the panels 211 and 212.

Support 213, 214 and 215 are spaced apart from each other along the length of the curtain divider between the first and second ends when the curtain divider is in the extended closed position.

The arrangement of the supports 213. 214 and 215 is such that they can pivot about their axes as they are drawn together, in generally similar manner to that shown in

Figure 7 in respect of the vertically movable curtain divider. Therefore, at least the intermediate elongate support 214 is able to pivot about its general vertical axis when it is engaged by an adjacent one of the supports (215). (Figure 17 shows the nesting together of the supports 213. 214 and 215). There will therefore be elongate tensile elements (not shown) which extend horizontally and which are secured at one set of ends to the support 215, and which are spaced apart vertically from each other throughout the height of the curtain divider. Also, a winding device (not shown) is arranged adjacent to the first end of the curtain divider i.e. to the left of the support 213. and to which the opposite ends of the tensile elements are connected, and which is operable to draw the support 215 horizontally towards support 213 in order to open the curtain divider.

Guides (not shown) are provided on the intermediate support 214 and through which the elongate elements are taken, and respective actuators (not shown) may be arranged on the support 215 and operate, as the support 215 is pulled by the tensile elements, to engage the guides on the intermediate support and thereby cause the latter to pivot about its general vertical axis, in order to promote the formation of curtain loops as the curtain is drawn to the open position (as in the arrangement shown schematically in Figures 1 to 3) .

Alternatively, the supports may interengage, and nest together, in the manner shown in Figure 7, though of course turned through 90°.

Figure 15 shows the initial formation of loops in the curtain panel 212 as the support 215 commences its opening movement to the left.

An overhead track 222 supports and guides the horizontal movement of the upper end of the curtain divider, and which is supported by hanging brackets 223, and any suitable means (such as swivel type hangers 224c)

is provided to enable the supports 213, 214 and 215 to pivot about a vertical axis relative to the runners 224 from which they are suspended. Fixing straps 225 enable the lower ends of the support 213 to 215 to be anchored to the floor in the open, closed or any intermediate positions.