Apparatus for assisting in securing a protective structure over a window or door
AssigneeGateway Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorDale M. Clewis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims29
A window and door protection apparatus for protecting glass portions of a window or door placed in a recess of a wall of a building, comprising:
- a) a sheet panel for covering the window or door, the panel being sized and shaped to fit over the window or door;
- b) an adjustable retaining bar for securing 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 spaced notches, 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 first selected notch;
- iii) a second connector 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 second selected notch, said second connector being capable of slidable movement along one of the first or second bar members and into the second selected notch;
- c) wherein the bars are initially connectable in a first angled position using the first connector and selected notch, wherein both bars occupy the wall recess and wherein the bars are movable from the angled position to a generally aligned 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.
A window and door protection apparatus for securing a protective panel to a window or door mounted in a recess of a 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 first selected notch;
- c) a second connector 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
- d) wherein the bars are initially connected together using the first connector in an angled position so that both bars occupy the recess and wherein the angled bars are rotated from the angled position to a generally aligned 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.
A window and door protection apparatus for securing a protective panel to a window or door mounted in a recess of a 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, wherein the notches enable a connection to be formed between the first connector and the second bar member at a selected position defined by a first selected notch;
- c) a second connector 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
- d) wherein the bars are initially connected together by the first connector in an angled position so that both bars occupy the recess and wherein the angled bars are moved from the angled position to form an interference fit with the building wall at the recess to discourage removal of the panel.
An apparatus for intended use in securing a protective structure over a window or door formed in an opening in a wall, comprising:
- a first elongated bar;
- a first connector carried by the elongated bar;
- a second elongated bar having a plurality of notches, including a first selected notch for receiving the first connector when the first bar is initially positioned at an angle relative to the second bar in the wall opening;
- a second connector for positioning in a second selected notch on the second bar after the first and second bars are moved from the angled position so as to create an interference fit with the wall surrounding the opening in which the window or door is positioned, said second connector being capable of slidable movement along one of the first or second bar members and into the second selected notch.
A method of holding a protective structure at least partially over a window or door positioned in an opening in a wall from damage during a storm or the like, comprising:
- positioning first and second bars adjacent to the protective structure in the opening in an angled relationship;
- positioning a first connector on the first bar in a first selected one of a plurality of notches formed in the second bar;
- moving the first and second bars to an axially aligned relationship with the first connector positioned in the first selected notch such that the bars are held in place by an interference fit;
- and
- positioning a second connector in a second selected one of the plurality of notches to help maintain the first and second bars in the axially aligned relationship.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.