US 8,505,263 B2 · Inflatable barrier

Abstract

A flexible hurricane shutter or barrier to protect buildings from over pressure has inflatable cushions held in place by a fabric material capable of withstanding winds in excess of 100 mph. The barrier can be stored on site in a rolled fashion. Retainers are mounted on a building to guide and secure the longitudinal edges of the fabric to permit ease of deployment. The retainers may be spaced apart over one side of a building and the barrier may be deployed over an entire surface of a multi-story building by raising and lowering the fabric. Inflatable cushions are held between the fabric and the building. The inflated cushions reinforce the material and distribute the force of impact throughout the surface of the cushions and act as spacers to both hold the fabric off the structure and focus the forces onto stranger portions of the structure.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A method for protecting frangible portions of structures and objects from high winds, rain, and wind bourne debris comprising:

arranging at least one of an inflatable cushion and a fabric material such that the cushion is disposed between said fabric material and a frangible portion of a structure, the fabric material being sized and shaped to cover the frangible portion of the structure, the fabric material being able to withstand at least about 100 mph winds, the fabric material having a top edge, a bottom edge and longitudinal side edges, at least one of said edges providing one or more attachment devices for connection to the structure;
connecting said attachment devices to an exterior portion of the structure;
and
inflating said cushion.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Inflatable barrier

Life of this patent

Inflatable barrier

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9