Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 2 0 8 80 9 9
This invention relates to window guards that prevent
break-ins through a building window frame, while still allowing
daylight into the building.
5BACRGROUND OF THE ll.v~ lON
United States patent No 1,634,843 issued in 1927 to
McWane, discloses a window guard having a plurality of horizontal
rods 11 interconnecting two opposite lateral studs 7, 8. Studs 8
include transverse bores 9, while stud 7 includes transverse
10notches 13. Core extensions 10, 14, of each rod 11 at opposite
ends thereof engage a corresponding bore 9 and a notch 13,
respectively in studs 8, 7. A lock bar 16 is slidably mounted in
the hollow notched stud 7, for releasably locking (with integral
transverse pin 17) the rod core extension 14 in position against
15unauthorized egress from the notch 13.
The flaw in the McWane device is clear: the burglar needs
only to break the glass of the window pane, to access the lock bar
16 and release the rods 11 from the studs 7, 8. This is not safe.
United States patent No 4, 395,8 61 issued on August 3,
201983 to Fipke and Oswald, constitutes an improvement in two ways.
First, the transverse window bars 4 include a central cylindrical
metallic core 8 (fig 2) which is freely rotatable within the tube
4, so that any attempt at sawing the core 8 Will bias the latter to
rotate in the direction of sawing, thus in effect preventing
25effective sawing action (since there is no real grip of the saw
teeth on the surface of the rod which surface moves with the saw
blade during sawing motion). Second, the lock bar 15 (figs 6 and
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9), which releasably locks the ends of rods 4 into notched stud 4,
is controlled by a stem 19 extending inwardly through the building
wall 17. In its operative position, stem 19 prevents egress of the
corresponding ends of rods 4 from the notches 14 (fig 7) of stud 2.
Stem 19 is actuatable solely by a handle 21 located inside the
building, at a distance from the window aperture, so that even if
the window pane is shattered by a burglar, unauthorized access
(from outside of the building) to the window guard release handle
21 will be denied.
Unfortunately with these known prior art window guards,
the overall weight (transport costs) and manufacturing cost tend to
be relatively high. Since these features are critical in this
intensively competitive market, they do have an impact on projected
sales. Studies have shown that current window guards (either of
the grid type, or of the adjustable bar length type) tend to be
considered as unaesthetic (customers complain of being like inside
a prison).
It is understood that all window guards are now required
by law to be releasable from the inside, so as to constitute an
0 escape passageway in case of fire inside the building.
OBJEC$S OF THE l~.v~.lION
The main object of the invention is therefore to address
the drawbacks of existing window guards as outlined in the
preceeding paragraph, particularly with respect to weight and cost
parameters.
An object of the invention is to provide a window guard
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which is easily and quickly (in much less than a minute) removable
from the interior of the building, so that this window remain a
safe escape passageway during a fire.
Another object of the invention is to provide a window
guard of a type which is more appealing to the homeowner, so as to
reduce the negative impression of ''imprisonment'' of grid-type
window guards.
Still another object of the invention is to provide such
a window guard, which allows one to sleep at night with the window
glass panes opened.
A general object of the invention is to provide such a
window guard as a kit, of such easy installation as to be installed
by the building owner himself.
A further object of the invention is that the window
guard be such as to enable the building owner to install same from
the interior of the window frame, thus preventing seasonality in
the retail sales.
An object of this window guard is that the whole assembly
thereof bé dismantleable from the building window frame, for use in
another building.
A general object of this invention is to address the
safety needs of tenants by providing a low-cost version of the
standard window safety grid.
8UNMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the hereinabove objects of the
invention, there is disclosed a window guard for use within a
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`w~ndow frame, said window frame being of the quadrangular type
defining first and second pairs of opposite legs, said window frame
having a substantial thickness defining interior and exterior
marginal portions, said exterior marginal portion for use in
supporting a partition chosen f~om the group comprising glass pane
members and mosquito screen members, said window guard to be
installed within said interior marginal portion of the window frame
and comprising: (a) a pair of first and second, elongated, hollow
stud members, each being made of a lightweight material and being
of generally quadrangular cross-section whereby four stud walls are
defined, a first one of said stud walls to be anchored by anchoring
means to a corresponding one of said window frame legs, a second
one of said stud walls being defined opposite said first stud wall;
(b) a number of elongated, rigid rods, made of a sturdy,
tamperproof material and each of a length greater than the distance
between said pair of stud members, each rod defining opposite first
and second end portions; (c) a number of bore means, mounted into
said first stud member second wall and releasably axially engaged
by a corresponding number of said rods first end portions; (d) a
number of notch means, mounted into said second stud member second
wall and being releasably transversely engaged by said rods second
end portions; (e) channel means, anchored to said second wall of
each said first and second stud member within the hollow thereof,
at a distance from said first wall of the corresponding stud
members, said channel means extending along a major portion of the
length of said stud members and having transverse channel apertures
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to register with corresponding said bore means and notch means for
free passage of corresponding said rods end portions; (f) first
and second elongated skeleton members, being slidingly engaged into
said channel means of corresponding said first and second stud
members and of a length representing a substantial portion of the
length of said channel means and of a shape generally conforming to
that of channel means for smooth sliding motion therethrough, said
skeleton member being made of a sturdy, tamperproof material and
having transverse skeleton apertures to register with corresponding
said bore means and notch means for free passage of corresponding
said rods end portions; (g) latch means, for slidingly moving said
second skeleton member through the corresponding said channel means
between first and second positions, whereby hook means are provided
to release said rods second end portions located in said notch
means, in said first limit position of the second skeleton member,
but to fixedly secure said rods second end portions, in said second
limit position of the second skeleton member, whereby said rods
second ends become trapped within said notch means upon said second
skeleton member reaching its said second limit position; and
(h) lock means, for preventing unauthorized actuation of said
latch means.
BRIEF DE8CRIPTION OF THE DRAWING8
Figures 1 and la are isometric views of a window frame mounted to
a building wall, showing two alternate embodiments of burglar-
deterring devices of the invention located on the inner side of thewindow panes relative to the building inside volume;
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Figure 2 is a view at an enlarged scale of the area
circumscribed by arrow 2 in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a cross-section taken along broken line 3-3 of
Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4 of Figure 3
rotated 90 degrees clockwise;
Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the inner face of the
lateral stud from perspective 5 of Figure 1, taken
sectionally through a horizontal bar;
Figure 6 is a sectional view along line 6-6 of Figure 5;
Figures 7-8 are cross-sections taken about lines 7-7 and 8-
8 respectively of Figure 4;
Figure 9 is a front elevation of a window frame mounted to
a building wall, showing a third alternate embodiment of
burglar-deterring device of the invention located on the
inner side of the window panes relative to the building
inside volume;
Figure 10 is an enlarged view of area 10 in Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a sectional view along line 11-11 of Figure
10;
Figure 12 is a cross-section of one embodiment of pair of
opposite lateral studs from one of the window frames,
showing one horizontal bar in fragmentary view;
Figures 13 and 14 are isometric, fragmentary views of the
two lateral studs from Figure 12;
Figures 15-l9 are exploded, isometric views of the various
elements of the lateral studs from Figure 12; and
Figure 20, on the fourth sheet of drawings, is a cut-away
view, at an enlarged scale, of one end of a lateral stud -
in the area circumscribed by arrow 20 in Figure 9 -.
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DETAI~ED DE8CRIPTION OF THE lNV~ ION
As illustrated in figures 1, la, and 9, the window frame
30 conventionally fits inside a quadrangular aperture 32 made in
the upright wall 34 of a building. Window frame 30 includes two
lateral side legs 3Oa, 3Ob, a top leg 30c and a bottom leg 3Od.
The building wall 34 defines an interior face, 34a, (opening into
the building interior volume) and an exterior face (not shown).
Aperture 32 has a substantial thickness, whereby the quadrangular
window frame 30 defines an exterior marginal portion and an
interior marginal portion. Window panes P (or alternately, sashed
mosquito screen or any other weather-proof or bug-controlling
partition) are installed along the exterior marginal portion of the
window frame. Sashed window panes P may be of the horizontally
slidable type, as illustrated, or may be vertically slidable, or
outwardly tiltable, or alternately, be fixedly anchored in
position; the particular type of slidable partition P is irrelevant
to the present invention.
According to the invention, a removable window guard 36
is provided, being fitted along the interior marginal portion of
the window frame 30, i.e. interiorly relative to glass pane P. The
window guard 36 includes a number of substantially identical cross-
bars 38, and one pair of opposite studs 40, 41, located at the
opposite ends of the cross-bars 38 and anchored to respective legs
of the window frame 30. The cross-bars 38 are releasably connected
to the studs 40, 41. Release of the cross-bars 38 can be done only
from the inside of the building.
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In the first embodiment of window guard 36, shown in fig
1, the cross-bars 38 extend horizontally, and the studs 40, 41,
being engaged by the lateral side legs 30a, 30b, of the window
frame 30. In the second embodiment of window guard 36', shown in
fig la, the cross-bars 38' extend vertically, and the studs 40',
41', fit into the top and bottom window legs 30c, 30d,
respectively.
In the third embodiment of window guard 36'', shown in
fig 9, a first set of cross-bars 38 extend horizontally, with the
corresponding studs 40, 41, being engaged by the opposite lateral
side legs 30a, 30b; and a second set of cross-bars 38' extend
vertically, being anchored to the first set of cross-bars 38 at
their cross-points (figs 10-11). The two sets of cross-bars 38,
38', are located within two vertical planes which are spacedly
offset from one another relative to the thickness of the window
aperture 32. The horizontal rods 38 simply extend through
corresponding cylindrical channels 39 made at selected intervals
along the vertical rods 38'. Each channel 39 is for example closed
on one side thereof (left hand side of fig 11), but opened on the
opposite side thereof (right-hand side of fig 11). Vertical bars
38' are provided only for aesthetic reasons, and are therefore not
designed to enhance the sturdiness and burglar-resistant features
of the window guard. However, this third embodiment of window
guard is not the preferred embodiment, because of overall weight
and capital cost considerations.
As shown in figs 10-11, the bars or rods 38, 38', should
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be made from a sturdy, rigid material at their core C.
Iron or a metallic alloy is preferred; advantageously, this
metal core will be covered by a plastic (e.g. PVC) sheath,
H.
Figures 5-6 suggest how the left-hand end
portions of the horizontal guard rods 38 of figure 1 or 9
become engaged into the corresponding stud 40. This stud
40 is shown in broken, isometric view in Figure 13. Stud
40 forms a tubular extrusion, of quadrangular cross-section
defining four side walls 44, 46, 48 and 50. Opposite walls
48 and 50 are joined by a lightweight partition 52 being
closely spaced of inner wall 44. Walls 44, 46 and 52 have
a number of generally coaxial bores 44a, 46a, 52a,
respectively, corresponding to the number of window guard
bars 38. Bores 44a and 52a are diametrally larger than
rods 38, to allow free axial passage of the end portions of
these rods therethrough. Bore 46a is much smaller in
diameter relative to bores 44a and 52a, and is freely
engaged by a screw S driven into the wooden leg 3Oa of
window frame 30, whereby the stud 40 is anchored to the
window frame 30.
Bore 46a is aligned with bores 44a and 52a, so as
to allow easy access to bore 46a through bores 44a and 52a,
for driving screw S into wood 30a or for unscrewing screws
(with a screwdriver tool). This alignment of bores 44a,
46a, 52a is preferred, because it allows release of studs
40 (and 41) from window frame 30, i.e. that the owner may
choose to remove the window guard 36 and carry same with
him when moving out from a
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house.
As suggested in figure 6 and in the left hand side of
figure 12, a sturdy, reinforcing, rectangular, flat, metallic plate
54 is freely engaged into the narrow channel 56 defined between
proximate parallel walls 52 and 44. Plate 54 has bores 54a
diametrally similar to and coming in register with corresponding
pairs of bores 44a and 52a, for free passage of rods 38 .
Preferably, there is provided a reinforcing partition 58
joining walls 46 and 52 at mid-distance from walls 48 and 50 of
stud 40. Partition 58 is made of the same lightweight material as
- walls 44-52, being preferably PVC (polyvinyl chloride, a plastic).
Preferably also, metal plate 54 has a width being substantially
less than the distance between walls 48 and 50, although greater
than half said distance, in order again to maintain stud height to
a minimum.
Advantageously, wall 52 will be joined to proximate wall
44 by a short partition 60, at such a distance from wall 50 that
quadrangular plate 54 will slidingly abut edgewisely against
partitiono 60 and the opposite small fraction of wall 48 in
register therewith, whereby no play for tilt of plate 54 within
channel 56 will remain. The purpose of partition 60 will become
clear upon commenting the opposite stud 41 (hereinbelow) which, for
economies of scale, will be made from the same extrusion beam as
stud 40. Partition 58 will also have cut-outs 58a (fig 12), in
register with each quadruplet of aligned bores 46a, 52a, 54a, 44a,
to clear the way for the (relatively massive) rod 38.
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As illustrated in figs 12 and 14, studs 40 and 41
are from the same extrusion and thus, construction.
Features in stud 41 corresponding to those in stud 40 will
be referenced by 200-series numerals. The only difference
between the studs 40 and 41 is the L-shape notching of bore
44a and 52a of stud 40, along walls 244 and 248 of stud 41
(fig 14), to define notch 62. Notch 62 is double-decked
(about notch portions 252a, 244a), at the inner face of
stud 41, since there are two closely parallel partitions
252 and 244, but single-decked about portion 248a of wall
248. The width of notch 62 about walls 244 and 252 is
similar to the diameter of rod 38, to allow free engagement
of the corresponding rod end portion thereof, while the
depth of notch 62 through wall 248 is sùfficient to enable
the latter rod end portion to slidingly escape therethrough
to clear stud 41, thereby allowing release of rod 38 from
opposite stud 40 by axial pulling of rod 38 outwardly from
aligned bores 46a, 52a, 54a and 44a of that opposite stud
40.
Releasable locking means 64 are provided to
prevent release of each rod 38 from its corresponding stud
notch 62 (and thus relese of rod 38 from studs 41 and 40).
Such locking means 64 are detailed in figures 2-4, 7-8 and
15-19 of the drawings. Means 64 includes a rectangular
plate 254, being slidably engaged into channel 256. Plate
254 includes a number of L-shape recesses 66, each of a
width slightly greater than the diameter of a corresponding
rod 38 for free through engagement by the latter (fig 4).
Each L-shape recess 66 includes a transverse leg 66a,
opening outwardly of the plate 254, and a lengthwise leg
66b merging at its
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upper end with the transverse leg 66a. Rectangular plate 254 is
movable between a first position (not illustrated), in which all of
- the transverse recess legs 66a come in direct register with all the
corresponding bores 248a of the stud inner wall 248, and a second
position, illustrated in fig 4, in which the recess legs 66a become
offset from these bores 248a lengthwisely of rectangular plate 254.
It is understood that in said first position of plate 254, the
locking means 54 are in their ''unlocked'' mode, since the
corresponding end portion of rods 38 may be freely released from
stud 41 through recess legs 66b, 66a, and bores 248a; while in said
second position of plate 254, the locking means 64 are in their
''locked'' mode, since the rods 38 inside plate recess 66 cannot
escape ports 248a.
For controlling (vertical) sliding motion of rectangular
plate 254 through hollow upright stud 41, between its said first
and second positions, there is provided an integral transverse flap
68 at the bottom edge of upright plate 254. As best seen in fig 3,
flap 68 extends about most but not all of the sectional area of the
inner tubular volume defined by stud walls 250, 246, 248, and 252.
Flap or tab 68 forms a horizontal seat against which abuts a
rectangular lever arm 70 which is pivotally carried by a horizontal
pivotal member 72 (fig 7), the latter being transversely carried by
and projecting outwardly from inner stud wall 244.
Pivot member 72 consists of a locking barrel, with the
keyslot part thereof, 74, projecting through and beyond inner stud
wall 244. A loose key 76 (fig 1) operates keyslot 74, to rotate
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lock barrel 72 to bring lever arm 70 from a first horizontal
position, illustrated in phantom lines in fig 4, to a second
upright position, illustrated in full lines in fig 4. It is
understood that in said second position of lever arm 70, its short
arcuate free end 70a abuts against flap 68 to raise integral plate
254 to move recess leg 66a out of register from stud bore 248a. As
the lever arm 70 is brought (with key 76) from said second to said
first position thereof, plate 254 will fall by its own weight until
its flap 68 comes to abut flatly against the long straight side
edge 70b of lever arm 70.
Hence, by rotating key 76, the corresponding end portions
of rods 38 will automatically be locked to or unlocked from stud
41. For fire safety considerations, key 76 must be readily
accessible to occupants within the house, and thus, should be
located proximate window 30, for example hooked to a bracket B (fig
1) fixed to the house upright wall 34, but beyond an arm's length
distance from window 30, to prevent unauthorized access thereto by
a burglar having broken the window panes P.
Most preferably, and as illustrated in figs 4, 7 and 19,
lock means 70-74 should be shielded by a generally cross-
sectionally U-shape metallic, tamperproof frame 78, to prevent
unauthorized access to lock barrel 72 via frangible PVC wall 244.
Accordingly, the web 78a of metal U-frame 78 is bored at 78b, to
allow through passage of the intermediate core of barrel 72.
In an alternate embodiment of lock stud 41, illustrated
as 41' in fig 6, the lightweight, flat, PVC-based partition 258 is
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replaced by a sturdy, cross-sectionally U-shape metallic frame 80,
(see also fig 15) abutting against stud walls 246, 248, 250. U-
frame 80 includes bores 80a along its web, to register with
corresponding bores 246a in stud wall 246, for driving screw
members S therethrough into wooden leg 30a, to anchor reinforcing
frame 80 to the window frame 30, and notches 8Ob for coming in
register with the notches 62 of stud walls 244 and 248.
Of course, such a U-frame arrangement (80) could also be
used within the opposite hollow stud 40, and illustrated as 80' in
fig 16. U-frame 80' would not need any lateral notch, since the
body of stud 40 is only bored along wall 44 thereof, but not
notched along the wall 48 (one of the two side legs of U-frame 80'
abuts flatly against the corresponding wall 248 of stud 41, which
thus required the notching of this wall to match the notches 248a
(fig 14) in wall 248.
Or, alternatively, and as illustrated in figs 7-8 and 18,
when a lock barrel shield frame 78 is used, U-frame 80 is
preferably replaced by a simple rectangular metallic plate 82.
Reinforcing plate 82 abuts against wall 246, and has bores 82 again
for through-engagement by screw S.
The total length of lever arm 70 of the lock means 64
need not be as long as the internal width of stud 41 ,i.e. the
distance between walls 248 and 250 - see fig 4 -, for lever arm 70
to be effective in raising the locking plate flap 68. This is why
partition 260 is provided, because lock plate 254 need not be as
wide as the stud for lever arm arcuate end 70a to effectively reach
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lock plate flap 68. For optimum sliding performance of lock plate
256 inside its stud channel, it is desirable that:
a) metallic plate 254 come in contact with metal-less material of
channel walls 260, 252, 248 (small fraction) and 244 (large
fraction), and preferably, these channel walls will then be for
that reason made of PVC, because PVC\metal shearing surfaces
provide excellent sliding capabilities (low frictional ratios);
(b) said channel 244, 248, 252, 260 be of such a width and depth as
to substantially match the external format of slider plate, 254, so
as to prevent any undesirable swinging play or ''fluttering'' of
slider plate 254 within the latter channel during sliding motion
therethrough.
Moreover, reducing the width of slider plate 254
desirably reduces the overall weight of stud 41. Hence, the
purpose of partition 260, which reduces the overall inner volume of
the slider plate channel 244, 248, 252, 260 for the (heavy) slider
plate.
Preferably, and as illustrated in fig 20, the top end of
each hollow, vertical stud 40, 41, is closed by a weatherproof plug
cap 84.
As illustrated in fig 2, the portions of shield plates
254, 80 in register with stud notch 62, effectively prevent
unauthorized access into stud 40 through notch 62 and recess 66.
The second embodiment of the invention in fig la is
similar to the one in fig 1, except that the studs 40', 41', extend
horizontally along the top and bottom legs 30c, 30d of the window
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~frame 30, rather than vertically. Obviously, the slider
plate 254 inside the lock stud 41 will not be able to
return by itself (i.e. by its own weight) from its rod-
locking to its rod-releasing positions, since rectangular
plate 254 will extend horizontally with the stud 41'. The
window guard 38' would then become permanently anchored to
the window frame. Alternatively, access to the slider
plate 254 could be reached - upon unlocking lock 64 with
key 76 - by removing plug cap 84 (fig 20) at the end of
stud 41 opposite locking barrel 72 (this stud end would be
slightly spaced from the window frame leg 30a), inserting
the forefinger and pushing the slider plate end toward
opposite window frame leg 3Ob.
Preferably, the material selected for the stud
members, including the channel members, is chosen from the
group comprising lightweight PVC material, aluminum or an
aluminum alloy.
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