Hurricane panel fastening method

• US 20090249715A1
• Filed: 06/10/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Campus Housing Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: Campus Housing Company, LLC
• Inventors: Germain, Reid P., Germain, Craig D.
• Application Number:
  US12/457,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20090249715A1
• 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: 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. The protective panel is secured to the structure 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 the exterior side of the panel. The panel can then be removed from the structure from inside or outside the structure by removing the first or second pins, respectively.

Claims

1. A method for removably attaching a protective panel to a structure using a 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 protective panel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising releasing the sleeve and the protective panel from the shaft from inside the structure by removing the first pin.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising releasing the protective panel from the sleeve from outside the structure by removing the second pin.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively removing the protective panel from inside or outside the structure by removing the first or second pins, respectively.

5. The method of claim 1, 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.