WO1998032943A1

WO1998032943A1 - Retractible closure apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1998032943A1
Application number: PCT/AU1998/000037
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shane Anthony Quig
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-01-28
Filing date: 1998-01-28
Publication date: 1998-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 1999-07-28
Also published as: AUPO484297A0

Abstract

A retractible closure apparatus (20) for an opening, which closure apparatus comprises a closure member (21) including a plurality of elongate slat members (22) pivotally engaged by spigot (30) and socket portions (31) along adjacent slat members; first weather sealing means (32) operatively associated with the pivotal engaements (30, 31); guide channels (23) associated with opposed sides of the closure, said guide channels respectively slidably locating opposite ends of said slat members (22); second weather sealing means (39) operative between said guide channels and an outer normally exposed surface of said closure member (21); and a storage housing (24) adapted to store said closure member in a substantially coiled condition. The closure apparatus is characterised in that, when the closure member (21) is in an extended position, the first weather sealing means (32) is placed under compression and when said closure member (21) is in a retracted position, the first weather sealing means (32) is substantially relieved of said compression.

Description

TITLE

RETRACTIBLE CLOSURE APPARATUS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a closure apparatus for an opening, such as an opening in a vehicle or a building structure, which apparatus includes a closure member which may be selectively retracted and extended for covering or revealing the opening as required. The invention particularly relates to retractible closure apparatus of the kind including a plurality of slat members located by guide means associated with the opening.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Existing retractible closure apparatus of the slatted kind - whether adapted for vehicular, building or other applications - suffer from a number of drawbacks and disadvantages, as will become apparent from the following brief discussion of particular examples. Most notably, few of the prior art arrangements address the need for providing effective weather sealing for slatted closure apparatus. The shutter enclosures described in European Patent

Publication No. 729856 (Powerplus Systems Ltd) and US Patent No. 4784427 (Burgess) rely on complex tensioning arrangements, including cable and pulley arrangements or band spring and spool arrangements, for keeping the slatted shutters in tension during retracting and/or extending operations. Shutter enclosures using these arrangements are relatively expensive to manufacture and prone to mis-operation.

Australian Patent No. 641066 (8881/91 ) (Ronai) describes a cover apparatus for a pick-up truck box including a cover comprised of either a plurality of tube members covered by a sheet of flexible material or a plurality of rigid panels articulated together, which cover is vertically received in lengthwise tracks. The cover, which is of relatively light construction, is merely rolled up upon itself and must be separately secured to the vehicle. The flexible sheet is prone to wear and leakage especially where secured by rivets.

Australian Patent Application No. 68784/94 (Champion) briefly describes a roller shutter device which is stored in a housing, which housing includes a convolute track means for receiving a slatted shutter when retracted. However in the track arrangement disclosed, the individual slat elements of the shutter would tend to bunch and jam when conveyed into the housing. Further more the stored shutter would be prone to excessive rattle due to the free play available in the convolute track.

Australian Patent Application No. 62673/86 (Romano) and US Patent No. 4889381 (Tamblyn et al.) describe retractable cover assemblies characterised by wheels mounted at ends of panels or slats comprising the cover, which wheels are received in track arrangements. The wheels and cooperating track arrangements increase cost and maintenance requirements, as the wheels are prone to wear, breakage and/or jamming.

US Patent No. 4013113 (Frei) and US Patent No. 4717196 (Adams) describe drive systems for panel type closures for window openings and pick-up truck beds, respectively. The Frei system includes a panel engaging drive member which includes grooves at predetermined positions and optional track means to effect the positioning of interconnected panels in an alternately longitudinally folded configuration thereby forming a pile when stored. This system is only really suitable where the interconnections between panels are sufficiently flexible or rotatable so as to allow movement through at least 180 degrees between adjacent panels.

The Adams system includes a cylindrical drive roller having tooth means for engaging complementary tooth means provided on the panels of a cover portion. The system relies on the synchronisation of the drive roller with a complex cover reeling system including sets of pulleys and a pair of belts carrying the flexibly hinged panels in a prismatic conveyor-type storage unit. The reeling system design is such that a considerable proportion of the load space of the pick-up is consumed by the storage unit. The flexible hinge arrangement between adjacent panels is also subject to fatigue weakening in use, which may result in local or catastrophic failure of the hinge.

US Patent No. 5330246 (Bernardo) describes a slat block and guide track apparatus for a rolling truck bed cover. The hinged slatted cover is retracted onto a spring actuated reel.

However, the configuration of the reel and the supporting slat blocks result in the cover being stored in a relatively inefficient fashion about the reel. The elongated plastics seals mounted in the hinge between slats are subject to wear in the vicinity of the protruding blades as moisture and debris tend to accumulate in the trough like portion of the cooperating slat. This compromises the water resistance of the cover. The same problem is evident with the similar slat sealing arrangement described in the Tamblyn specification. It is further notable that neither of the specifications indicate how covers of this type might be conveniently motor driven, Tamblyn in particular believes such drive arrangements are entirely unnecessary.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a retractible closure apparatus for an opening which ameliorates or overcomes at least some of the problems associated with the prior art.

It is another object of the invention to provide a retractible cover apparatus having improved weather sealing between adjacent slats of a cover member. It is yet another object of the invention to provide a retractible cover apparatus having a simple and efficient drive means for extending and retracting a cover member from an associated storage housing.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a retractible cover apparatus having improved weather sealing between cover member guide channels and an outer surface of the cover member.

Further objects will be evident from the following description.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In one form, although it need not be the only or indeed the broadest form, the invention resides in a retractible closure apparatus for an opening, the closure apparatus comprising: a closure member including a plurality of elongate slat members pivotally engaged along adjacent slat members; first weather sealing means operatively associated with the pivotal engagements between slat members; guide channels associated with opposed sides of the closure, said guide channels respectively slidably locating opposite ends of said slat members; second weather sealing means operative between said guide channels and an outer normally exposed surface of said closure member; storage means adapted to store said closure member in a substantially coiled condition; said closure apparatus characterised in that, when the closure member is in an extended position, the first weather sealing means is placed under compression and when said closure member is in a retracted position, the first weather sealing means is substantially relieved of said compression.

Preferably the pivotal engagement between adjacent slats comprises telescopically engaged spigot and socket portions. Suitably the first weather sealing means is located within and between said spigot and socket portions.

In preference, the first weather sealing means is associated with said spigot portion. Suitably the cross-section of each socket is eccentric or it includes a continuous protrusion located proximate the first weather sealing means, when said closure member is in an extended position.

Most suitably, the pivotal connection is adapted to induce compression in the first weather sealing member as adjacent slat members move between a retracted position and an extended position

Preferably the retractable closure apparatus comprises a drive means adapted for operative engagement with an inner side of the closure member.

Suitably the drive means comprises a toothed gear member adapted to engage with protrusions extending from an inner surface of said closure member.

Most suitably the drive means includes a tubular drive motor.

In preference, the protrusions extend longitudinally of said slat members.

If required, said protrusions may be adapted for pivotal engagement with an adjacent slat member.

Preferably the slat members have a substantially planar outer face. In preference, the guide channels include a drainage channel for use in a non-upright orientation.

Suitably the second weather sealing means includes an elongate seal member located in an upper region adjacent a mouth portion of respective guide channels. Preferably the elongate seal member includes an outwardly directed flange portion resiliently biased, in use, against the outer surface of said closure member. Most preferably the elongate seal member is substantially "S" shaped in cross-section.

Preferably the storage means includes convolute track means for slidably locating opposite ends of said slat members, which track means are associated with opposed end walls of a storage housing.

The storage means may alternatively include a biased spindle upon which the closure member may be coiled, wherein the bias tends to retract the closure member into a storage housing. The invention also resides in a retractible closure apparatus, as set out above, adapted for fitment to a cargo carrying compartment of a vehicle.

The invention further resides in a retractible closure apparatus, as set out above, adapted for fitment to a door, window or similar opening in a building or other structure, whether fixed or portable.

BRIEF DETAILS OF THE DRAWINGS

To assist in understanding the invention preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the following figures in which:

FIG 1 is a perspective view of a retractible closure apparatus of a first embodiment fitted to the cargo compartment of a utility type vehicle; FIG 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the closure member coiling arrangement and drive means of the first embodiment; FIG 3 is an enlarged detail view of engaged slat members of the closure member and gear member of the drive means for the cover apparatus of the first embodiment; FIG 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the guide channel for the closure member of the first embodiment; and FIG 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a closure member coiling arrangement and drive means of a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts. Referring to FIG 1 , there is shown a utility or pick-up type vehicle 10 with a retractible closure apparatus 20 of a first embodiment fitted to the cargo carrying compartment 11 of the vehicle 10. The retractible closure apparatus 20 includes a closure member 21 constructed of a plurality of relatively narrow elongate slat members 22, wherein adjacent slat members are pivotally engaged with one another along opposed edges. The slats are made of aluminium in the embodiment, although plastics or composite materials of suitable strength may be substituted as appropriate. The slatted closure member 21 is slidably retained in guide channels 23 mounted near the top of opposed walls 12 of the cargo carrying compartment 1 1 , the pivotally engaged slat members 22 extending between the guide channels. The retractible closure apparatus 20 further includes a storage housing 24 into which the closure member 21 may be retracted to reveal substantially the whole of the cargo carrying compartment 11 of the utility vehicle 10. In the embodiment, the storage housing is located at one end of the cargo carrying compartment 11 adjacent the cabin 13 of the vehicle 10. Preferably the closure member 21 may be selectively deployed and retracted by means of a motorised drive means 27 visible through the cutaway portion of the closure member, although manual activation may also be facilitated as required. FIG 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the retractible closure apparatus 20 showing one of the guide channels 23 and an end wall 25 of the storage housing 24. The end wall 25 includes convolute track means 26, the track having a spiral layout in the embodiment, for slidably locating a first end of respective slat members 22 of the closure member 21. A proximate end of the guide channel 23 is in registration with the open end of the convolute track means whereby the closure member 21 may be fed into the storage housing 24. A corresponding track is also associated with the opposite end wall (not shown) of the storage housing 24 for receiving second ends of the slat members 22, for coiling the closure member 21 when retracted. The retractible closure apparatus 20 further includes a drive means 27 which, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises a toothed gear member 28. The teeth of the gear member 28 operatively engage with an inner side of the closure member 21 , see the enlarged detail in FIG 3. Preferably the gear member is actuated by a tubular electric motor (not shown) mounted coaxially within a tube

29 supporting said gear member 28. Other embodiments may include a gear, belt or other drive means linking the gear member and motor. Furthermore a clutch mechanism may be provided to facilitate optional manual extension and retraction of the closure member 21. FIG 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the slatted closure member 21 and the toothed gear member 28. The slat members 22 comprising the closure member 21 each include a spigot portion 30 and a socket portion 31 disposed proximate respective longitudinal edges thereof. The spigot portion 30 is adapted for telescopic engagement with the socket portion 31 of an adjacent slat member, whereby the adjacent slat members may pivot relative to one another through an arc of approximately 45 degrees. The relative pivotal engagement of slat members 22 provides the closure member 21 with a measure of flexibility in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal dimension of the slat members. The spigot portion includes means for retaining a first weather sealing member 32 which preferably extends to the full width of the closure member 21. (Note that the width of the closure member generally corresponds to the length of each slat member). Accordingly, when the respective spigot portions 30 and socket portions 31 are pivotally engaged, the first weather sealing member 32 is located within and between said portions. Furthermore there is an operative association between the pivotal engagements and the first weather sealing member 32, here embodied by the continuous protrusion 33 disposed in the socket portion 31.

The disposition of the continuous protrusion 33 relative to the first weather sealing member 32 is arranged such that: (i) when the closure member is in an extended position (as illustrated in FIG 3), the first weather sealing member 32 is placed under compression by the protrusion 33; whilst

(ii) when the closure member is in a retracted position (ie. adjacent slats are pivoted through a major portion of their pivotal arc) the protrusion 33 no longer engages the weather sealing member

32 which is thus substantially relieved of the compression. This operative association ameliorates the problem of memory effect common in plastics type weather sealing members which, when held in compression over a period of time, can reduce the effectiveness of the seal. In an alternative embodiment, the socket member could include an eccentric cross-section to similarly effect seal compression relief.

The particular configuration of the spigot and socket portions provided on the slat members 22 also contributes to more effective weather sealing. Preferably, each socket portion 31 is configured with its opening facing downwardly when the closure member 21 is extended; whilst the spigot portion is configured to retain the first weather sealing member 32 facing upwardly. This configuration seeks to avoid the accumulation of liquid, debris, dust or the like in the immediate vicinity of sealing surfaces on the first weather sealing member 32 and the socket portion 31 of each slat member 22. Such accumulation tends to occur when the sealing surfaces are disposed at the bottom of a trough-like structure. In the preferred configuration, any liquid incident on the extended closure member 21 which seeps between the slat members 22 tends to accumulate in a runnel portion 34 adjacent to the spigot portion 30. The accumulating liquid is then able to drain along the runnel portion 34 towards the ends of the slat members 22 and into the guide channels 23 (see also FIG 4). Accordingly, it is less likely that such accumulation in the immediate vicinity of the sealing surfaces would occur in the embodiment.

FIG 3 also shows an enlarged view of the toothed gear member 28, illustrating its operative engagement with an inner side of the closure member 21. It will be appreciated that the individual teeth of the gear member are adapted for engagement with the socket portion 30 of the slat members 22 to effect extension of the closure, which corresponds to clockwise rotation of the gear member 28. The teeth are also adapted for engagement with a support arm for the spigot portion 31 of the slat members 22 to effect retraction of the closure member 21 , which corresponds to anti-clockwise rotation of the gear member 28 shown.

A partial cross-sectional view of the guide channel 23 and a cooperating end portion of the closure member 21 is shown in FIG 4. The guide channel 23 includes a top flange 35 for mounting on the uppermost surface of the wall 12 of the cargo carrying compartment 11 of the vehicle 10. The guide channel also includes a mouth portion 36 for receiving the end of the closure member 21 , below the normal position of which end is disposed a drainage channel 37. The lower region of the mouth portion 36 includes low friction runner means 38 for slidably locating the slat members 22 comprising the closure member 21. The upper region of the mouth portion 36 includes a second weather sealing member 39 operative on an outer normally exposed surface of said closure member 21 , which outer surface is substantially planar in the embodiment owing to the outer faces of the slat members 22 being planar. The weather sealing member is substantially "S" shaped in cross-section and includes an outwardly directed flange portion 40 which is resiliently biased against the exposed surface of the closure member 21. The flange portion 40 facilitates a self-sealing effect, whereby any fluid pressure incident on the seal in a direction generally congruent to the inherent bias assists in maintaining the seal.

The slat members 22 further include an end cap 41 located between the spigot portion 30 and socket portion 31 of each slat member, see the phantom example shown in FIG 3. The end caps are made of low friction plastics or similar material and perform several functions, including providing low friction bearing surfaces where the slats are located in the guide channel. The inner face of each end cap 41 slides along the low friction runner means 38, whilst the end face of each end cap may slide along the back wall of the mouth portion 36. The end caps 41 also assist in reducing relative longitudinal movement between adjacent slat members 22 (ie. laterally of the cover member 21 ). This is especially so when the cover member is retracted in a coiled condition and the respective first weather sealing members 32 are not compressed. As discussed above in relation to FIG 3, any liquid which accumulates in the runnel portion 34 of the slat member would tend to flow towards the ends of the slat members 22 and from there enter the drainage channels 37 provided in respective guide channels 23. The end caps 41 are arranged so as not to close the ends of the slat members 22 in the vicinity of the runnel portions 34. The drainage channels 37 are connected to existing vehicle drains (not shown) typically provided in the floor portion of the cargo carrying compartment. The location of the toothed gear member 28 and support tube 29, which is rotatably mounted between the end walls 25 of the storage housing is also illustrated in FIG 4.

The second embodiment of a retractible closure apparatus 50 is illustrated in FIG 5, showing details of the leading slat 51 L and cover plate 52 for the storage housing 53. Note that these details are also applicable to the retractible closure of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, a spring loaded spindle member 54 carries the closure member 55 which rolls upon itself when retracted into the storage housing 53. This arrangement may replace or supplement the convolute track means in the end walls of the storage housing of the first described embodiment. A short lead-in track 26' may be provided to support the closure member for at least part of the distance between the spindle member 54 and the mouth 36 of the guide channel 23.

The trailing slat 51 T of the closure member 55 is engagable with a socket-like portion 56 of the spindle member 54. A spring loading arrangement (not shown) biases the spindle member so as to effect retraction of the closure member 55, ie. the spring is arranged to produce counter-clockwise rotation of the spindle member

54 as shown in the present drawing.

Preferably, the retractible closure apparatus 50 includes motorised drive means including a toothed gear member 57. The biasing effect of the spindle member 54 provides a back tension on the gear member 57 to avoid mis-operation or jamming of the drive means during extension and ensures (in the absence of any convolute track means in the end walls of the storage housing) that the closure member 55 rolls relatively smoothly onto the spindle member without bunching or merely flopping into the lower reaches of the storage housing 53. The leading slat member 51 L, which has a specialised cross-section compared to the remaining slat members 51 , includes a planar member 58 and an upstanding member 59. The trailing edge of the planar member 58 includes a spigot-like structure which is engagable with the socket portion of an adjacent slat member 51 of the closure member 55, whilst the inner surface of the leading portion of the planar member 58 is corrugated for engagement with sealing means (not shown) provided on the uppermost surface of the utility's rear tailgate 14 (see also FIG 1 ). The leading portion of the planar member 58 may also include locking means for securing the closure member 50 and thus the contents of the cargo carrying compartment. In a first arrangement as shown, the locking means 60 may include a pair of cam operated rods 61 extending laterally of the closure member 50 for engagement with apertures in respective opposed walls 12 of the cargo carrying compartment. Such apertures may be arranged at selected locations along the length of the cargo carrying compartment such that, for example, the closure member 55 may be locked in the Vz closed, 3/4 closed or fully closed positions. In a second simpler arrangement, the locking means may releasably engage the tailgate 14 of the vehicle for locking the closure member 55 in the fully closed position.

The upstanding member 59 of the leading slat member 51 L has an aerofoil cross-sectional configuration for contributing to improved sealing between the said leading slat member and the tailgate 14 during motion of the utility vehicle 10. The upstanding member is also corrugated so as to provide a convenient grasp for manual extension and retraction of the closure member 55. If the retractible closure apparatus 50 is arranged for manual operation, the biasing effect of the storage arrangement conveniently assists with retraction of the closure member 55. The storage housing 53 also includes a cover plate 52 having an elongate weather seal 65 extending laterally across the outer surface of the closure member 55. The slat members 51 comprising the closure member 55 of the second embodiment are similar to those described in relation to the first embodiment, but include a further reinforcing rib 62 extending from the internal surface of each slat. This arrangement provides additional strength and more positive location of slat end caps 41

(compare with FIG 3) which are modified to include a body slotted for retention by the arrow head shaped portion 63 provided on the extremity of the reinforcing ribs 62. Alternatively the gauge of the material used to form the slats might be reduced for reduced weight but similar strength characteristics by incorporating the reinforcing rib.

The reinforcing ribs 62 may also conveniently retain further plastics spacer members 63 which may be located at the centre of each slat member for reducing "rattle" when the closure member is in the extended position. The plastics spacer members 63 are similar in shape to the end caps 41 but exclude any end face portion 41 E provided for slidable engagement with the back wall of the mouth portion of guide channel 23 (see FIG 4). The gear member 57 is also modified to provide clearance for the reinforcing ribs 62 of the slat members, the teeth having a substantially symmetrical cross-section. The bed of a typical utility vehicle, such as the

"Commodore" utility manufactured by General Motors Holdens - Australia or the "Falcon" utility manufactured by Ford Australia (which are both based on respective standard passenger sedans), is approximately 3.2m long. The configuration of slatted closure member and storage means of the invention, when adapted to such utility vehicles, allows a suitable closure member for the load carrying compartment to be stored in a coiled condition having a diameter of approximately 0.30m. This compact storage arrangement compares with storage arrangements of 0.48m or larger in the prior art, which reduce the length and/or volume of objects which might otherwise be carried. Whilst the retractible closure member of the invention is described in relation to a non-upright closure in a vehicle, it may also be adapted for fitment to openings in any type of structure. Such openings could clearly include normally upright closures for vehicles or for buildings, whether the buildings were portable or fixed.

It will be appreciated that a retractible closure apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention provides one or more significant advantages over the prior art. In the area of weather sealing, the arrangements of weather sealing means first between adjacent slat members of the closure member and secondly between the outer surface of the closure member and opposed locating guide channels seek to provide improved liquid resistance. The seal compression relief arrangement further seeks to provide an extended operational life for slatted closure members. In the area of storage arrangements for retractible closure members, the invention seeks to provide an improved motorised drive arrangement coupled with a substantially more compact storage housing for the retracted closure member.

Throughout the specification the aim has been to describe the preferred embodiments of the invention without limiting the invention to any one embodiment or specific collection of features.

Claims

1. A retractible closure apparatus for an opening, the closure apparatus comprising: a closure member including a plurality of elongate slat members pivotally engaged along adjacent slat members; first weather sealing means operatively associated with the pivotal engagements between slat members; guide channels associated with opposed sides of the closure, said guide channels respectively slidably locating opposite ends of said slat members; second weather sealing means operative between said guide channels and an outer normally exposed surface of said closure member; storage means adapted to store said closure member in a substantially coiled condition; said closure apparatus characterised in that, when the closure member is in an extended position, the first weather sealing means is placed under compression and when said closure member is in a retracted position, the first weather sealing means is substantially relieved of said compression.

2. The closure apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pivotal engagement between adjacent slats comprises telescopically engaged spigot and socket portions.

3. The closure apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first weather sealing means is located within and between said spigot and socket portions.

4. The closure apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first weather sealing means is associated with said spigot portion.

5. The closure apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the cross-section of each socket portion is eccentric.

6. The closure apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the cross-section of each socket portion includes a continuous protrusion located proximate the first weather sealing means, when said closure member is in an extended position.

7. The closure apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the pivotal connection is adapted to induce compression in the first weather sealing member as adjacent slat members move between a retracted position and an extended position

8. The closure apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the retractable closure apparatus comprises a drive means adapted for operative engagement with an inner side of the closure member.

9. The closure apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the drive means comprises a toothed gear member adapted to engage with protrusions extending from an inner surface of said closure member.

10. The closure apparatus as claimed in either claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the drive means includes a tubular drive motor.

11. The closure apparatus as claimed in either claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the protrusions extend longitudinally of said slat members.

12. The closure apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 1 1 wherein said protrusions are adapted for pivotal engagement with an adjacent slat member.

13. The closure apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the slat members have a substantially planar outer face.

14. The closure apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the guide channels include a drainage channel for use in a non-upright orientation.

15. The closure apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein the second weather sealing means includes an elongate seal member located in an upper region adjacent a mouth portion of respective guide channels.

16. The closure apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the elongate seal member includes an outwardly directed flange portion resiliently biased, in use, against the outer surface of said closure member.

17. The closure apparatus as claimed in either claim 15 or claim 16 wherein the elongate seal member is substantially "S" shaped in cross-section.

18. The closure apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein the storage means includes convolute track means for slidably locating opposite ends of said slat members, which track means are associated with opposed end walls of a storage housing.

19. The closure apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein the storage means includes a biased spindle upon which the closure member may be coiled, wherein the bias tends to retract the closure member into a storage housing.

20. A retractible closure apparatus, as claimed in any one or more or the preceding claims adapted for fitment to a cargo carrying compartment of a vehicle.

21. A retractible closure apparatus, as claimed in any one or more of claims 1 to 19 adapted for fitment to a door, window or similar opening in a building or other structure.