Wind storm resistant barrier for protecting glass windows and doors

• US 20020017065A1
• Filed: 05/10/2001
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gateway Manufacturing LLC (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Manufacturing LLC (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Clewis, Dale M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,640,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/202
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/005 Storm panels; hurricane shutters
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/02 Shutters, movable grilles, or other safety closing devices, e.g. against burglary louvre windows or grilles E06B7/08; lamellar blinds E06B9/26
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 52/12 Temporary protective expedient

Abstract

An adjustable length bracing device can be installed in a window frame or door frame to secure a sheet of covering material that is positioned to protect the window or door from flying debris resulting from a hurricane, tornado, or other storm. The brace device consists of two independent and moveable bars, which can be adjusted to fit the inside of a window or door opening. The adjustment is made by the use of a metal clip attached to one bar and inserted into a notch on the other bar. The ends of each bar have rubber pads to help prevent marring the window or door opening or frame and to prevent any slipping of the bracing device assembly. Once the assembly is in position, a locking metal ring holds both independent bars together to prevent movement.

Claims

1. A window and door protection apparatus for protecting glass portions of a window or door that is placed in a recess of a surrounding wall of a building, comprising:

a) an expansive sheet panel for covering the window or door, the panel being sized and shaped to fit over the window or door and occupy the wall recess;

b) an adjustable retaining bar that secures the panel in the recess, the bar comprising;

i) a first bar member having first and second end portions, the first end portion having a first connector;

ii) a second bar member having first and second end portions and a plurality of notches spaced at intervals along at least a portion of the length of the second bar member, wherein the notches define recess portions that enable a connection to be formed between the first connector and the second bar member at a selected position defined by a selected notch;

iii) a second connector that is removable from at least one of the bar sections and that enables a connection to be formed between the first bar member and the second bar member at a position spaced away from the first connector and at a location defined by a selected notch;

c) wherein the bars can be preliminarily connected together in a first angled position using the first connector and selected notch, wherein both bars can occupy the recess and wherein the angled bars can be rotated from the angled position to a generally aligned, interference fit position that forms an interference fit with the building wall at the recess, the interference fit position of the bar enabling the bar to discourage removal of the panel from the recess.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bars are about the same size.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bars are about the same length.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bars are about the same in transverse cross section.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first bar member has an upper surface, a lower surface and front and rear surfaces, and wherein the notches are on the upper surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first bar member has an upper surface, a lower surface and front and rear surfaces, and wherein the notches communicate with at least three of said upper, lower, front and rear surfaces.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first connector is pivotally connected to the first bar member.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second connector has an open center.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the open center is sized and shaped to enable each bar member to fit inside of the open center when the two bar members are abutted and aligned such as in the interference fit position.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second connector has an open center.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the second connector has an open center, and the open center is sized and shaped to enable each bar member to fit inside of the open center when the two bar members are in either the angled or in the aligned, interference fit position.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an end of at least one of the bars has a pliable bumper.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an end of each of the bars has a pliable bumper.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the bars are about the same size.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the bars are about the same length.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the bars are about the same in transverse cross section.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first bar member has an upper surface, a lower surface and front and rear surfaces, and wherein the notches are on the upper surface.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first bar member has an upper surface, a lower surface and front and rear surfaces, and wherein the notches communicate with at least three of said upper, lower, front and rear surfaces.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first connector is pivotally connected to the first bar member.

21. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the second connector has an open center.

22. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the open center is sized and shaped to enable each bar member to fit inside of the open center when the two bar members are abutted and aligned such as in the interference fit position.

23. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the second connector has an open center.

24. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the second connector has an open center, and the open center is sized and shaped to enable each bar member to fit inside of the open center when the two bar members are in either the angled or in the aligned, interference fit position.

25. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein an end of at least one of the bars has a pliable bumper.

26. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein an end of each of the bars has a pliable bumper.

14. A window and door protection apparatus for securing a protective panel to a window or door mounted in a recess of a surrounding wall of a building, comprising:

a) a first bar member having first and second end portions, the first end portion having a first connector;

b) a second bar member having first and second end portions and a plurality of notches spaced at intervals along at least a portion of the length of the second bar member, wherein the notches define recess portions that enable a connection to be formed between the first connector and the second bar member at a selected position defined by a selected notch;

c) a second connector that is removable from both bar section and that enables a connection to be formed between the first bar member and the second bar member at a position spaced away from the first connector and at a location defined by a selected notch; and

d) wherein the bars can be preliminarily connected together using the first connector and angled relative to one another in an angled position so that both bars can occupy the recess and wherein the angled bars can be rotated from the angled position to a generally aligned, interference fit position that forms an interference fit with the building wall at the recess, the interference fit position of the bar enabling the bar to discourage removal of the panel from the recess.

27. A window and door protection apparatus for securing a protective panel to a window or door mounted in a recess of a surrounding wall of a building, comprising:

a) a first bar member having first and second end portions, the first end portion having a first connector;

b) a second bar member having first and second end portions and a plurality of adjustment positions spaced at intervals along at least a portion of the length of the second bar member, wherein the adjustment positions define spaced apart structures that enable a connection to be formed between the first connector and the second bar member at a selected position defined by a selected notch;

c) a second connector that is removable from both bar section and that enables a connection to be formed between the first bar member and the second bar member at a position spaced away from the first connector and at a location defined by a selected notch; and

d) wherein the bars can be preliminarily connected together using the first connector and angled relative to one another in an angled position so that both bars can occupy the recess and wherein the angled bars can be rotated from the angled position to a generally aligned, interference fit position that forms an interference fit with the building wall at the recess, the interference fit position of the bar enabling the bar to discourage removal of the panel from the recess.