ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTS FOR MOUNTING A PLANAR OBJECT BETWEEN OPPOSED SURFACES

• US 20070241245A1
• Filed: 05/15/2007
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Larry Ford
• Original Assignee: Larry Ford
• Inventors: Ford, Larry
• Granted Patent: US 7,658,353 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/201
• 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

Abstract

The present invention is an adjustable support for installing a planar sheet of material between opposed surfaces for protection from events such as storms. The supports secure the planar sheet to an opening such as a door and window, thereby holding it in place during storms, etc. The supports are easily removed and include a substantially L-shaped base and a clamp. The clamp is removably and adjustably attached to the first side of the L-shaped base, thereby forming an aperture between the second side of the L-shaped base and the bottom surface of the clamp. The aperture is adaptable to accept various thicknesses of substantially planar objects. A device is provided for engaging the adjustable support with a support structure, passing through the clamp and passing through a hole in the first side of the L-shaped base and interfacing with support surfaces to hold the substantially planar object between the first support surface and a substantially opposed second support surface.

Claims

1. An adjustable support for mounting a substantially planar object between a first support surface and an opposed second support surface, the adjustable support comprising:

a substantially L-shaped base having a first side and a second side;

a clamp having a side surface and a bottom surface, the clamp being removably and adjustably attached to the first side of the L-shaped base, thereby forming an aperture between the second side of the L-shaped base and the bottom surface of the clamp, the aperture adapted to accept the substantially planar object; and

a means for engaging the adjustable support passing through the clamp and passing through a hole in the first side of the L-shaped base, the means for engaging adapted to enter a hole in the first support surface and hold the substantially planar object between the first support surface and the opposed second support surface.

2. The adjustable support of claim 1, wherein the clamp is removably attached to the L-shaped base by a plurality of screws passing through an equal number of elongated holes in the side surface of the clamp and into threaded bosses in the first side of the L-shaped base.

3. The adjustable support of claim 1, further comprising a first set of serrated edges on an inside surface of the first side of the L-shaped base where the L-shaped base interfaces with the clamp and a second set of serrated edges on the side surface of the clamp where the clamp interfaces with the L-shaped base, the first set of serrated edges angled towards the aperture and the second set of serrated edges angled away from the aperture.

4. The adjustable support of claim 1, wherein the first support surface and the opposed second support surface have a plurality of holes and the means for engaging removably interfaces with one of the holes.

5. The adjustable support of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of sleeves, each sleeve positioned within one of the plurality of holes and the means for engaging removably interfacing with one of the sleeves.

6. The adjustable support of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of caps for removably covering the sleeves when the adjustable support is absent.

7. The adjustable support of claim 1, further comprising a security screw passing through the clamp and through a hole in the substantially planar object and through the L-shaped bracket and held in place by a nut.

8. A system for protecting an opening, the system comprising:

a substantially planar object sized to fit snuggly within the opening;

a first and second opposing support surface forming at least a portion of the opening;

a plurality of holes in the first and second opposing support surfaces;

a plurality of adjustable supports, each the adjustable supports comprising;

a substantially L-shaped base having a first side and a second side;

a clamp having a side surface and a bottom surface, the clamp being removably and adjustably attached to the first side of the L-shaped base thereby forming an aperture between the second side of the L-shaped base and the bottom surface of the clamp, the aperture adapted to accept and hold the substantially planar object; and

a locking pin passing through the clamp and passing through an elongated hole in the first side of the L-shaped base, the locking pin adapted to insert into the holes in the first and second opposing support surfaces, thereby holding the substantially planar object between the first and second opposing support surfaces.

9. The system for protecting an opening of claim 8, wherein the clamp is removably attached to the L-shaped base by a plurality of screws passing through an equal number of elongated holes in the side surface of the clamp and into threaded bosses in the first side of the L-shaped base.

10. The system for protecting an opening of claim 8, further comprising a first set of serrated edges on an inside surface of the first side of the L-shaped base where the L-shaped base interfaces with the clamp and a second set of serrated edge on the side surface of the clamp where the clamp interfaces with the L-shaped base, the first set of serrated edges angled towards the aperture and the second set of serrated edges angled away from the aperture.

11. The system for protecting an opening of claim 8, wherein the locking pin further comprises a locking pin handle to facilitate inserting the locking pins into the holes in the first and second opposing support surfaces and to facilitate removing the locking pins from the holes in the first and second opposing support surfaces.

12. The system for protecting an opening of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of sleeves, each sleeve installed within one of the holes in the first and second opposing support surfaces.

13. The system for protecting an opening of claim 12, wherein each sleeve includes a cap for covering an open end of the sleeve when the adjustable support is removed.

14. The system for protecting an opening of claim 8, wherein the first and second opposing support surfaces are an inside surfaces of a window frame.

15. An adjustable support for mounting a substantially planar object between substantially opposed support surfaces, the adjustable support comprising:

a substantially L-shaped base having a first side and a second side;

a clamp having a side surface and a bottom surface, the clamp being removably and adjustably attached to the first side of the L-shaped base forming an aperture between the second side of the L-shaped base and the bottom surface of the clamp, the aperture adapted to accept the substantially planar object; and

a means for securing the adjustable support to the substantially opposed support surfaces, the means for securing passing through the clamp and passing through an elongated hole in the first side of the L-shaped base, the means for securing adapted to interface with the substantially opposed support surfaces thereby holding the substantially planar object between the substantially opposed second support surfaces.

16. The adjustable support of claim 15, wherein the means for securing is a screw.

17. The adjustable support of claim 15, wherein the means for securing is a locking pin, the locking pin adapted to removably engage with a plurality of holes in the substantially opposed support surfaces.

18. The adjustable support of claim 17, further comprising a plurality of sleeves, each of the sleeves inserted into one of the holes in the substantially opposed support surfaces.

19. The adjustable support of claim 18, wherein the sleeves further comprise a removable cap for covering the holes when the adjustable clip is absent.

20. The adjustable support of claim 15, further comprising a first set of serrated edges on the first side of the L-shaped base where the L-shaped base interfaces with the clamp and a second set of serrated edge on the side surface of the clamp where the clamp interfaces with the L-shaped base, the first set of serrated edges angled towards the aperture and the second set of serrated edges angled away from the aperture.