US 4,059,059 AGranted

Protective system

OwnerBernard J. Hughesinventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Abstract

This invention concerns itself with and discloses a system for protecting articles and works of value such as, without limitation, works of art. Upon the occurrence of predetermined and preselected conditions, such as the occurrence of a fire, this system will permit and causes a fireproof, flameproof, smokeproof and waterproof curtain to move and descend about the article to be protected. In addition, the article and the entire protective covering just described, in a preferred embodiment of this invention, is permitted and is caused to descend into a protective container until the emergency condition has passed, whereupon the entire structure may be mounted as it was originally.

Claims1

Dependent claims

An aesthetically pleasing system for use in protecting articles of value, such as originallyframed paintings or the like, from an undesirable environment, comprising, in combination:

a protective enclosure capable of isolating its contents from water, fire and heat, said enclosure having five substantially sealed walls joined with one another and an upper cover hinged along one edge, said cover being movable between sealing and open positions, said enclosure further including cushioning spring means disposed at an inner base thereof, said enclosure also including an anchor bracket located within said five walls, an article support assembly secured by means of a fuse retainer at an exhibiting elevation above said protective enclosure, said article support assembly including a substantially flat plate member integral with a pair of depending strut members which carry the weight of an article of value supported therebetween, said plate member being of a predetermined size and shape conforming to the size and shape of an enclosure opening normally sealed by said cover, said fuse retainer releasably holding said article support assembly at said exhibiting elevation and being responsive to an emergency signal which will cause the release of said plate and strut members thereby enabling their descent under the influence of gravity, and guide means interconnected between said support assembly and said protective enclosure for guiding the path of said article of value upon said release by the fuse retainer in response to said emergency signal, said path terminating with said article and article support assembly coming to cushioned rest against said cushioned spring means within said protective enclosure that is sealed shut by sealing contact between said flat plate member and enclosure surfaces defining said enclosure opening, said article support assembly further including movable curtain means resistant to said undesirable environment for protecting an article of value, means for guiding the path of said movable curtain means, weight means for influencing the movement of said curtain means, stop means for limiting the movement of said curtain means, and retaining means responsive to heat for initially retaining said curtain means in an initial position, said movable curtain means including a pulley assembly supported by said article support assembly, at least one curtain supported by said pulley assembly in an initial position and movable with portions within track recesses to an emergency position, said weight means comprising a relatively heavy member integral with a forward portion of said curtain, said retaining means comprising a fuse which is responsive to heat disposed with portions thereof in the gravitational path of said heavy member, said stop means comprising a bracket member of a shape adapted to receive and obstruct the path of said heavy member, whereupon at a predetermined environmental temperature said fuse and said fuse retainer will respond, thereby causing both the curtain to fall under the influence of said heavy member into an emergency position covering the article of value and the entire article support assembly and covered article to descend into the protective enclosure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

patentgrep

Loading patent…

Abstract

An aesthetically pleasing system for use in protecting articles of value, such as originallyframed paintings or the like, from an undesirable environment, comprising, in combination:

a protective enclosure capable of isolating its contents from water, fire and heat, said enclosure having five substantially sealed walls joined with one another and an upper cover hinged along one edge, said cover being movable between sealing and open positions, said enclosure further including cushioning spring means disposed at an inner base thereof, said enclosure also including an anchor bracket located within said five walls, an article support assembly secured by means of a fuse retainer at an exhibiting elevation above said protective enclosure, said article support assembly including a substantially flat plate member integral with a pair of depending strut members which carry the weight of an article of value supported therebetween, said plate member being of a predetermined size and shape conforming to the size and shape of an enclosure opening normally sealed by said cover, said fuse retainer releasably holding said article support assembly at said exhibiting elevation and being responsive to an emergency signal which will cause the release of said plate and strut members thereby enabling their descent under the influence of gravity, and guide means interconnected between said support assembly and said protective enclosure for guiding the path of said article of value upon said release by the fuse retainer in response to said emergency signal, said path terminating with said article and article support assembly coming to cushioned rest against said cushioned spring means within said protective enclosure that is sealed shut by sealing contact between said flat plate member and enclosure surfaces defining said enclosure opening, said article support assembly further including movable curtain means resistant to said undesirable environment for protecting an article of value, means for guiding the path of said movable curtain means, weight means for influencing the movement of said curtain means, stop means for limiting the movement of said curtain means, and retaining means responsive to heat for initially retaining said curtain means in an initial position, said movable curtain means including a pulley assembly supported by said article support assembly, at least one curtain supported by said pulley assembly in an initial position and movable with portions within track recesses to an emergency position, said weight means comprising a relatively heavy member integral with a forward portion of said curtain, said retaining means comprising a fuse which is responsive to heat disposed with portions thereof in the gravitational path of said heavy member, said stop means comprising a bracket member of a shape adapted to receive and obstruct the path of said heavy member, whereupon at a predetermined environmental temperature said fuse and said fuse retainer will respond, thereby causing both the curtain to fall under the influence of said heavy member into an emergency position covering the article of value and the entire article support assembly and covered article to descend into the protective enclosure.