Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WINDOW BAR GUARD WITH SECURITY RELEASE
Field Of The Invention
This invention relates to a window bar guard
system for discouraging breaking and entry through
window openings.
Background Of The Invention
Window bar guard systems have been used for some
time in an effort to thwart or discourage breaking and
entering into a house or other establishment through a
window opening. A telescoping window bar guard system
is disclosed in United States patent 3,738,062. The
system includes two horizontal members having an
extensible portion. One side of the grillwork is
pivotally connected to the window frame. The extensible
portion is extended and secured to the other side of the
window frame by a lock arrangement. In the event of
fire or the need to clean the window, the system may be
unlocked and swung outwardly. The extensible portion is
not secured to the horizontal members so that the
extensible portion can be retracted in order to release
the bar system. Due to the free telescopic nature of
the bars of the window system, prying with a crowbar can
weaken the connection of either side of the bar guard
system to the window frame to allow illegal entry
through the window.
A telescopic bar window system, which entails
locking the relative positions of the telescoping bars,
is disclosed in United States patent 4,437,265. Lock
portions are used on at least two of the telescoping
horizontal bar members to prevent relative movement
therebetween. The ends of the bars are fastened to the
opposite sides of the window frame. However, to remove
the bar system from the window it is necessary to unlock
the telescoped bars. The lock provided, in accordance
with this patent, is a friction type lock which can be
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readily tampered with to release and thereby allow
illegal entry to a building through the window.
Fixed bar arrangements for window bar guard
systems are disclosed in United States patents
2,999,682, 2,222,667, 4,019,281 and 4,358,912. Due to
the fixed nature of the bars, various mounting systems
are employed to permit outward withdrawal of the bar
gratings by complete removal or pivotal action. Pivotal
action for the bar systems is further demonstrated in
United States patent 3,953,939, where a lower segment of
the bar system is pivoted upwardly when released.
United States Patent 4,817,334 (Badger et al)
discloses a window barguard system having telescopic
bars and which overcomes certain disadvantages in the
above-discussed prior art bar window systems.
Recent revisions in the Standard Building Codes of
Canada and the United States stipulate the necessity for
quick release window guards. More particularly, the
1989 Standard Building Code revisions for the United
States require that every sleeping room on the first and
second story of group R (single and multiple)
occupancies must have at least one operable window or
exterior door approved for emergency egress or rescue.
Furthermore, the Building Code revision require that the
window or exterior door must be operable from the inside
to a full clear opening without the use of separate
tools.
Therefore, prior art systems such as disclosed in
United States 4,817,334, which require the use of a
lock and key for opening of the bar guard, fail to meet
the above-noted revisions in Standard Building Code.
The reason for such revisions is apparent. In the
event of such an emergency (e.g. fire, etc.), it may be
difficult to locate a key and operate the key within the
lock mechanism.
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Summary of the Invention
In accordance with the present invention, a quick
release window bar guard is provided with a cable with a
graspable end inside of the window to be protected, and a
spring loaded arrangement for releasably locking the bar
grillwork into a closed position. Upon pulling the
cable, the grillwork disengages from the locking
mechanism and pivots to an open position.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a
window bar guard for discouraging breaking and entering
through a window, said bar guard comprising a rigid bar
guard comprising a rigid bar grillwork having a plurality
of spaced-apart first set of parallel bars and a
plurality of interconnecting spaced-apart second set of
parallel bars extending essentially perpendicular to said
first set, said bar grillwork spanning a window opening
to block human entry through the grillwork, means for
securing opposite ends of said first set of bars to
corresponding structural portions defining opposing edges
of a selected window opening, said means for securing
including at one of said opposing edges means for
effecting pivotal movement of said grillwork around
corresponding ends of said first set of bars, and spring-
loaded emergency release means connected to the other of
said opposing edges for releasably securing the other of
said opposite ends of said first set of bars, said
spring-loaded emergency release means having a sheathed
release cable extending away therefrom to a graspable end
portion,
said spring-loaded emergency release means having a
housing with a plurality of apertures thereon for
receiving distal ends of said other of said opposite ends
of said first set of bars, a slider mounted within said
housing and connected thereto for sliding movement
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via a first spring, latch means formed within said slider
for receiving and latching said distal ends of said first
set of bars, said spring-loaded emergency release means
effecting sliding movement of said slider between first
and second positions such that in said first position
said distal ends are disengaged from said latch means and
in said second position said distal ends engage said
latch means, wherein said slider is biased to said second
position via said first spring,
said spring-loaded emergency release means further
having a second spring mounted to said housing in a
direction perpendicular to the direction of said sliding
movement, said second spring being positioned so as to
bear against a predetermined one of said distal ends when
said slider is in said second position and for ejecting
said predetermined distal end through the corresponding
one of said plurality of apertures, whereby said
grillwork springs to an open Hosition for emergency
egress.
In an embodiment, the spring-loaded emergency
release means has a mounting bracket distal to said
window.
In a further embodiment, each said distal ends of
said first set of bars includes a further aperture, and
said latch means comprises a plurality of slide pins for
selectively extending through and thereby retaining said
distal ends.
In yet another embodiment, said sheathed cable is a
metal sheathed cable.
In a still further embodiment, there are means for
securing the sheathed release cable in a position
extending away from said spring-loaded emergency release
means.
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In another embodiment, the spring-loaded emergency
release means having said sheathed release cable
extending away therefrom is adapted to thwart entry
through said window.
Introduction to the Drawings
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will
be described in greater detail below with reference o the
following drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the window bar
guard system according to the preferred embodiment as
mounted in a window;
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Figure 2 is a perspective view of the window bar
guard system of Figure 1 shown from outside of the
window;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the window bar
guard system of Figure 1 in the open position;
Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of a spring
loaded emergency release device in accordance with the
preferred embodiment; and
Figures 5A and 5B are sectional detailed views of
the spring loaded emergency release device of Figure 4
in closed and open positions respectively.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Figures 1-3 illustrate the use of the window bar
guard system, according to this invention, on a window
commonly found in residential and commercial buildings.
According to the preferred embodiment, the bar guard
system is particularly adapted for use on basement
windows in the building wall 10 adjacent ground level.
It is appreciated that a majority of the break-ins to
residential and commercial buildings is through basement
or ground level windows at the rear of the building.
The window 14 is defined by structural portions 18, 20,
22 and 24 of the building. These structural portions
may be concrete in which the window frame is set or they
may be of wood which constitutes additional parts of the
window frame.
The bar guard system 28, according to this
invention, is installed in the window opening 14 to
discourage breaking and entry through the window. The
bar guard system 28 comprises a first set of spaced-
apart parallel bars 30 and 32. In addition, a second
set of spaced apart parallel bars 34, 36, 38 and 40 are
provided. These bars extend in a direction essentially
perpendicular to the direction of the first set of bars
and are interconnected to form a grillwork or grid
pattern. The spacing between the first and second set
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of bars is such as to prevent human passage, between,
over or under the bars and through the window opening
14. The end portions generally designated 42 and 44 of
the first set of bars are secured to the building or
5 window structure portions 18 and 20 by securing devices
46 and 48. The securing device 46 includes a latch
which, when opened, releases end portion 42 of the
grillwork. The other end portion 44 is pivotally
mounted in securing device 48 so that with the latch
opened, the grillwork is caused to swing open to allow
cleaning of the window or emergency egress. The
construction of securing device 46 is of such type which
is not easily pilfered, to thwart burglars attempting to
pick the latch and gain entry.
Emergency release of security device 46 is effected
by means of pulling on a cable 50 which is enveloped
with a secure metal sheath 52 and connected to the
security device 46 as discussed in greater detail below
with reference to Figure 4. A graspable portion 54 is
attached to the end of the cable 50, and the cable 50
may be secured in place by means of a bracket 56, or
other suitable apparatus.
The other end of cable 50 extends within security
device 46 and the sheath 52 is threadabley connected to
a bottom portion of the security device 46.
Upon pulling the cable 50, the bar guard system 28
springs into an open position as shown in Figure 3 to
allow cleaning of the window or emergency egress, as
discussed above.
The system, according to this invention, is
devised in a manner to readily facilitate installation
by the householder. The grillwork provided by the
first set of bars 30, 32 and second set of bars 34-40
come in preassembled format, while telescoping portions
of the first set of bars 30, 32 may be adjusted to form
an appropriate width of the bars for securing distal
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ends thereof 42, 44 and the corresponding security
devices 46 and 48.
Upon fixing the width of the bars 30, 32 by
telescopic adjustment, as discussed above, the distal
ends 44 of the first set of bars 30, 32 are pivotally
connected to the securing device 48. The securing
devices 46 and 48 may be located in a variety of
orientations against varying slopes of the building
structure 18, 20 defining opposing edges of the window
opening 14.
The window bar guard system, according to
this invention, may be readily installed by the
householder without requiring elaborate tools.
Turning to Figures 4, 5A and 5B, the securing
device is shown in greater detail comprising an
enclosure of metal having outer wall 154, opposing side
walls 156 and 158 and upper and lower end walls 160.
The securing devices 46 and 48 are mounted to the
inner walls 18 and 22 of the window opening 14 by means
of a plurality of screws, such as the screw 200 shown in
Figure 4 for insertion through counter sunk hole 194, in
a well known manner.
The method of installation discussed above is
straight forward, and is completely discussed in the
aforenoted United States Patent 4,817,334 (Badger et
al ) .
As shown in Figure 5A, respective inner bars 68 and
70 of the end portion or distal end 42 of the bar guard
system are inserted through apertures 188 and 190
(Figure 4) of the metal enclosure. A latch or slider
170 is mounted within the metal enclosure for movement
between a first position (unlocked) as shown in Figure
5B, and second position (locked) as shown in Figure 5A,
in the direction of arrows 172 (Figure 4).
The slider 170 is provided with slide pins 192 and
194 adapted to engage apertures 196 and 198 in the
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respective end portions of the inner tubular bars 68
and 70 (Figures 3 and 5A). The slider 170 is biased
toward the second (closed) position by means of a first
spring 173 connected to the surface 160 of the
enclosure. A further spring 174 is connected to side
156 and adapted to spring portion 42 outwardly of the
security device 46 upon un-latching thereof.
In order to lock the system 28 in the closed
position, the cable 50 is withdrawn by means of grasping
and pulling the portion 54. As shown in Figures 4, 5A
and 5B, the remote end of cable 50 is attached by spot
welding at 171 to the slider 170.
Next, the cable 50 is released, such that the
spring 173 urges slider 170 into the first (closed)
position (Figure 5A). The pins 192 and 194 then pass
through the apertures 198 and 196 respectively to lock
the end portion 42 of the bar guard system in the
retaining device 46. The bar guard system remains in
the closed or locked position under the influence of
spring 173 urging the slider 170 and respective pins 196
and 198 into locked engagement with the distal ends 42.
In order to effect quick release of the bar guard
system, the handle 54 is pulled, thereby urging downward
movement of the slider 170 against the influence of
spring 173 until the locking pins 192 and 194 clear the
respective apertures 196 and 198 of the inner bars 70
and 68, respectively, such that the additional spring
174 urges the inner bar out of the aperture 198.
The apertures 188 and 190 are formed in the outer
wall portion 154 and side wall portion 158 of the
enclosure. The securing device 46 is attached to the
building structural portion in such a manner to ensure
that when the slider 170 is withdrawn to the open
position of Figure 5B, the bar portion 68 and 70 are
ejected outwardly of the enclosure by passing through
the apertures 188 and 190 as the other end of the grill
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work is pivoted about the other securing device 48. Due
to the advantageous structure of pivotally mounting the
securing devices 46 and 48 to the respective ends of the
grillwork, the installer is assured of, in one way or
another, positioning the locking enclosure 46 in a
manner to permit the grillwork and portions to be swung
inwardly and outwardly of the enclosure.
Although preferred embodiments of the invention
are described herein in detail, other modifications and
variations may be made thereto without departing from
the sphere and scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims.
