Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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5183_4
This invention relates to a protective device for
a building. The device is to be installed inside a window
so that, for example, illegal entry is prevented.
Devices for preventing illegal entry into a
building are well known. Typically they comprise bars
placed across the window and spaced in such a way that a
human cannot pass between them. However, the prior systems
of protecting windows in this way have proved difficult.
Typically, they comprise a frame made to fit a particular
window and having bars welded to and extending between mom-
biers positioned at the sides or at the top and bottom of
the window. The production of such a unit is expensive in
that each window must be treated individually and small
errors may necessitate scrapping one item produced and
starting all over again.
The present invention seeks to produce a protect
live device that is extremely simple to install and, in
particular, can be installed by the homeowner by himself.
Indeed, in a preferred embodiment the invention provides a
kit of parts to be used by the homeowner to install protect
live devices on his windows.
Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present
invention is a protective device for a building adapted to
be installed at a window to prevent ingress, the device
comprises a first member adapted to be attached at one edge
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of the window; a second member adapted to be mounted at a
further edge of the window, opposed to the first member;
each member being a channel member of generally U-shape,
the U having limbs joined by a bridge, with a flange
extending outwardly from one limb of the U, at the end of
the limb remote from the bridge; holes to receive screws
formed in each flange; recesses formed in each channel
member at predetermined centers; respective bars for
extending between opposed pairs of said recesses to prevent
ingress; holes extending through each channel member to
permit locating means to extend into the channel member to
locate the bars, the bars also being located, when the
device is in its useful position, by the attachment of the
members to the window edges.
In a further aspect the invention is a kit of
parts for a protective device to be installed at a building
window to prevent ingress through the window, the kit
comprising a channel member of generally U-shape, the U
having limbs formed by a bridge with a flange extending
outwardly from a limb of the U, at the end of the limb
remote from the bridge, the channel member being of a
length so that it can be cut to lengths to fit at two
opposed edges of the window; recesses formed in the channel
member at predetermined centers; at least one bar length in
the kit that can be cut to provide a plurality of bars,
each bar to be positioned to extend between a pair of
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opposed recesses to prevent ingress at the building window;
holes in the channel member to permit locating means to
extend into the channel member to locate the bars.
Aspects ox the invention are illustrated, by way
of example, in the drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a window protector according to the
present invention;
Figure 2 is a detail of Figure 1; and
Figure 3 illustrates a further embodiment.
Figure illustrates a window having a top edge 2
and a bottom edge 4 and side edges 6. There are protector
bars 8 extending across the window. Figure 2 illustrates
the installation of those bars according to one aspect of
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the present invention behind a window pane 10. Figure 2
illustrates a first channel 12 attached to the top edge 2 of
the window and a second channel 14 attached to the bottom
edge 4 of the window, opposed to the first channel 12. The
channel members 12 and 14 have recesses 16 and 18 respectively
formed at predetermined centers and the bars 8 extend
between these recesses 16 and 18, between opposed pairs, at
centers close enough to prevent ingress. The channel
members are generally U-shaped, the U having limbs 20 and 22
joined by a bridge 24. There is a flange 26 extending from
one limb 22 of the U, remote from the bridge 24 and holes 28
are formed in the flange 26. Screws 30 extend through these
holes 28 to engage in the window ledge or in the upper edge
of the window. The recesses 16 and 18 are formed in the
bridges 24 of the U. In the illustrated embodiment of
Figure 2 there are holes 32 extending through limb 22 of the
U and these holes 32 may be threaded so that screws 34
inserted into them abut the bars 8 to locate them. Alter-
natively, a threaded hole may be provided in the bars 8 and
the hole 32 in the channel member is then clear.
Figure 3 shows a modification in which the recesses
16 and 18 are positioned in a limb of the U and may be used
if the window shape, for example, prevents use of the Figure
2 embodiment.
The present invention is particularly applicable
for sale as a kit at a hardware store to be installed by the
owner of a private house. To install the protective device
of the invention first the window is measured and a length
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of channel member in the kit then cut to the required
length. A second length of channel member is cut and both
channel members are then desirably placed over the bars and
the pieces, the upper and the lower channel members and the
bars extending between them, then insert in the window.
Simple screwing in of the screws 30 through the holes 28 in
the flange 26 then secures the bars in position as in
Figure 1 to protect the window. If necessary, screws 34
may be inserted to locate the bars in position. With a kit
sold like this all the recesses 16 and 18 need not be used
to receive a bar 8. For example, it may be sufficient to
attach a bar 8 in every other recess 16 and 18 in the chant
not members.
Similarly, there is no restriction as to where
the channel members are to be mounted. They can be placed
at the side edges 6 of the window.
In the Figure 3 embodiment the recesses 16 and 18
are not formed in the bridge of the U but in the limb 20 of
the U, remote from the flange 26. Recesses 16 and 18 may
also be formed in limb 22. The device in Figure 3 is
installed with the recesses facing towards each other as in
Figure 2.
The protector bars and the channel may be made of
aluminum which provides a noncorroding end thus more
attractive appearance for a private house. However, it is
equally appropriate to make the components of steel
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The device may be mounted outside a window
although inside is preferred. If outside then it is pro-
furred to remove or hide the heads of the screws 30. The
channel members shown may be replaced by solid bars with
recesses formed in them or, indeed, any other shape. The
bars 8 need not be vertical but may extend across the win-
down they may be solid and their cross section is unimpor-
lent. Screws 34 are not essential. The bars 8 may simply
rest in the recesses.
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