Containment apparatus for removing windows and window frames

In a building including an interior having an upper surface and a lower surface, vertically spaced apart, and further having a structure in a wall disposed vertically between the upper surface and the lower surface, an apparatus for removing the structure from externally of the building, the apparatus comprising:

• a single unitary planar rigid member adapted to fit against a vertical surface within the interior of the building and to surround the structure in a substantially airtight relationship, thereby precluding dust and debris from entering the interior of the building as the structure is removed from externally of the building,
• the rigid member having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end being supported on a bottom portion of the structure,
• an adjustable supporting member connected to the rigid member and extending angularly to the upper surface above the top end of the rigid member,
• a first sealing gasket being disposed peripherally around the rigid member and surrounding the structure, forming the airtight relationship with the vertical surface, and
• a second sealing gasket being disposed on the bottom end of the rigid member forming the airtight relationship with the bottom portion of the structure,
• further comprising an engaging means extending horizontally outwardly from the bottom end of the rigid member toward the structure and engaging the structure, wherein the bottom end of the rigid member is supported on the structure and the airtight relationship is maintained.

In a building including an interior having an upper surface and a lower surface, vertically spaced apart, and further having a structure in a wall disposed vertically between the upper surface and the lower surface, an apparatus for removing the structure from externally of the building, the apparatus comprising:

• a single unitary planar rigid member adapted to fit against a vertical surface within the interior of the building and to surround the structure in a substantially airtight relationship, thereby precluding dust and debris from entering the interior of the building as the structure is removed from externally of the building,
• the rigid member having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end being supported on a bottom portion of the structure,
• an adjustable supporting member connected to the rigid member and extending angularly to the upper surface above the top end of the rigid member,
• a first sealing gasket being disposed peripherally around the rigid member and surrounding the structure, forming the airtight relationship with the vertical surface, and
• a second sealing gasket being disposed on the bottom end of the rigid member forming the airtight relationship with the bottom portion of the structure,
• wherein the structure is at least one window sash disposed in a window frame in the wall, the window frame having an interior stool on the bottom portion thereof, the bottom end of the rigid member being supported on the interior stool and the second sealing gasket being between the bottom end of the rigid member and the interior stool,
• wherein a well is formed in the window frame adjacent to the interior stool, an engagement means extending from the bottom end of the rigid member, the engagement means having a downwardly-depending portion which is received in the well thereby securing the bottom end of the rigid member to the structure.

A containment apparatus for the removal of a window and/or window frame within the wall of a building, comprising a substantially-flat sheet formed from a relatively high-impact plastic material and having a peripheral gasket for sealing engagement with a vertical surface of the building from the inside thereof, such that the sheet covers the window or window frame, and a means for removably retaining the sheet rigidly against the vertical surface of the building while the window or window frame is being removed externally of the building, thereby preventing dust or debris from entering into the building during removal of the window or window frame,

• further comprising at least one vertical brace mounted on a face of the sheet opposite from the vertical surface of the building,
• at least one eye bolt having a stem, and an eye portion,
• the stem of the at least one eye bolt extending through the sheet and being connected to the at least one vertical brace, and
• the eye portion protruding from the sheet oriented outwardly from the wall of the building.

In a building having a room having a ceiling and a window mounted in an opening between an exterior wall and an interior wall of the building wherein the window is blown out due to weather or is otherwise damaged, a temporary containment apparatus to enclose the opening comprising:

• a substantially flat rigid member having a peripheral gasket for sealing engagement with the interior wall of the building wherein the rigid member completely covers the opening in the interior wall,
• the rigid member having a top end and a bottom end,
• an adjustable supporting member connected to the rigid member and extending angularly to the ceiling above the top end of the rigid member,
• an adjustable clamping means connected to the bottom end of the rigid member, wherein the clamping means is disposed in the opening between the exterior wall and the interior wall of the building to secure the rigid member.

In the method of removing a structure from a wall in a building, the improvement comprising the steps of providing a planar rigid member having a gasketing means formed peripherally thereabout,

• removably installing the planar rigid member within the building against the inside of a vertical surface, a bottom end of the planar rigid member being supported on a bottom portion of the structure being removed, the gasketing means on the planar rigid member contacting the vertical surface surrounding said structure in a substantially airtight manner, thereby confining any dust and debris and preventing the dust and debris from entering the building,
• removing the structure while working from outside of the building, and
• removing the planar rigid member for subsequent reuse thereof,
• wherein the planar rigid member has an engaging means extending horizontally outwardly from the bottom end of the planar rigid member toward the structure being removed, and
• installing the rigid member wherein the engaging means engages the structure.