HURRICANE PANEL FASTENING DEVICE

• US 20090136292A1
• Filed: 11/28/2007
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Campus Housing Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: University Service Corporation, LLC
• Inventors: Germain, Craig D., Germain, Reid P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,559,715 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 403/294
• 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: F16B 21/12 with locking-pins or split-pins thrust into holes
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/63 Frangible connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/553 Laterally inserted section
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7081 Multiple retainers

Abstract

A fastener for removably securing a protective panel to a structure includes a shaft having a first portion and a second portion. The shaft includes a first opening extending through the second portion of the shaft. The fastener also includes a sleeve sized to fit over the second portion of the shaft. The sleeve includes second and third openings extending through the sleeve that are spaced apart by a distance greater than a thickness of the protective panel to be secured to the structure. The second opening corresponds to the first opening in the shaft and the third opening is located in the sleeve beyond an end of the second portion of the shaft when the first and second openings are aligned. The fastener also includes a first pin that is insertable into the first and second openings and a second pin that is insertable into the third opening.

Claims

1. A panel fastening device including a protective panel and a fastener capable of removably securing the protective panel to a structure, comprising:

a shaft having a first portion capable of being frictionally inserted into a bore of the structure, and a second portion capable of protruding from the structure, the shaft having a first opening extending through the second portion of the shaft;

a sleeve sized to fit over the second portion of the shaft and having second and third openings extending through the sleeve and being spaced apart by a distance greater than a thickness of the protective panel to be secured to the structure, the second opening corresponding to the first opening in the shaft and the third opening being located in the sleeve beyond an end of the second portion of the shaft when the first and second openings are aligned; and

a first pin insertable into the first and second openings and a second pin insertable into the third opening to secure the protective panel between the first and second pins.

3. The panel fastening device of claim 1, wherein a plate is located in at least one of two positions:

(1) between the first pin and the protective panel; and

(2) between the second pin and the protective panel.

4. The panel fastening device of claim 1, wherein when the first pin is removed from the first and second openings, the sleeve and protective panel are released from the shaft.

5. The panel fastening device of claim 1, wherein when the second pin is removed from the third opening, the protective panel is released from the sleeve.

11. The panel fastening device of claim 1, further comprising a harness attached to at least one of the first and second pins for removing the one of the first and second pins by pulling on the harness.

2. (canceled)

6. A method for removably attaching a protective panel to a structure using a panel fastening system including a fastener and the protective panel, the fastener comprising:

a shaft having first and second portions;

a first opening extending through the second portion of the shaft;

a sleeve sized to fit over the second portion of the shaft, and having second and third openings extending through the sleeve and being spaced apart by a distance greater than a thickness of the protective panel to be secured to the structure;

first and second pins for insertion in the first and second openings and the third opening, respectively, the method comprising;

frictionally inserting the first portion of the shaft into a bore of the structure with the second portion of the shaft protruding from the structure;

locating the sleeve over the second portion of the shaft and aligning the first and second openings;

mounting the protective panel on the sleeve between the aligned first and second openings and the third opening; and

securing the protective panel by inserting the first pin into the first and second openings on an interior side of the protective panel and inserting the second pin into the third opening on an exterior side of the panel.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising releasing the sleeve and the protective panel from the shaft from inside the structure by removing the first pin.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising releasing the protective panel from the sleeve from outside the structure by removing the second pin.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising selectively removing the protective panel from inside or outside the structure by removing the first or second pins, respectively.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising attaching a harness to one of the first and second pins, and removing the one of the first and second pins by pulling on the harness.