Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
TITLE OF INVENTION
COMPRESSION FRAMING SYSTEM
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application
No. 63/366,005,
filed June 07, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference, to the extent
that it is not
conflicting with the present application.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention:
[0002] The invention relates generally to protective structure framing
technologies and
specifically to compression framing systems for protective structures.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] Many historic buildings, such as the Elbert P. Tuttle Building of
Atlanta, Georgia, are
clad in granite blocks, other stone blocks, or other comparable historic
building materials. While
these historic building materials may help to maintain a desired visual
aesthetic for such structures,
said materials may present unique challenges when attempting to outfit a
historic building with
suitable protection against forced entry attempts. The external surfaces of
these historic building
may be broken, marked up, marred or otherwise damaged when attempting to
utilize know security
measure attachment methods, such as drilling, heavy adhesives, etc. In
addition to preventing
forced entries, preserving the delicate and historical architecture of these
buildings may be of great
importance. The currently known and widely utilized methods and devices for
retrofitting security
windows onto historic buildings are incapable of preventing forced entry
without doing so at the
expense of the external cladding structure/external surface of said historic
building.
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[0004] Therefore, there is a need to solve the problems described above by
providing a framing
system for a security glass window that does not penetrate or otherwise damage
the surrounding
mounting surface.
[0005] The aspects or the problems and the associated solutions presented
in this section could
be or could have been pursued; they are not necessarily approaches that have
been previously
conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be
assumed that any of
the approaches presented in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue
of their presence in
this section of the application.
BRIEF INVENTION SUMMARY
[0006] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a
simplified form that
are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not
intended to identify
key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this
Summary is not
intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject
matter.
[0007] In an aspect, a compression framing system configured to engage with
opposing
mounting surfaces of a building opening is provided, the compression framing
system having at
least one compression frame, each compression frame comprising: a first
compression arm and a
second compression arm, each compression arm having: a hollow pipe body having
an inner
body end and an outer body end; a connection bracket secured to the hollow
pipe body; and a
friction shoe configured to engage with the outer body end of the hollow pipe
body, the friction
shoe being further configured to engage directly with a corresponding opposing
mounting
surface of the opposing mounting surfaces; an inner support beam configured to
be at least
partially nested within the inner body end of the first compression arm and
the inner body end of
the second compression arm to secure the first compression arm to the second
compression arm;
and an expansion controller associated with the hollow pipe body of the first
compression arm;
wherein the expansion controller is configured to selectively adjust a
separation distance between
the friction shoe of the first compression arm and the friction shoe of the
second compression
arm; wherein each connection bracket is configured to engage with a protective
structure to
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Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
secure the protective structure to the opposing mounting surfaces, wherein the
protective
structure is configured to secure the building opening. Thus, an advantage is
that the
compression framing system may provide a mounting structure for securing a
protective
structure to be attached to a building without penetrating or damaging the
surrounding mounting
surface. Another advantage is the compression framing system may be easily
installed, serviced,
repaired, and maintained using standard tools. Another advantage is that the
expansion force
exerted by each compression frame of the compression framing system may be
selectively tuned
using the disclosed expansion controller based on the strength of the
surrounding mounting
surface and the desired level of protection. Another advantage is that forced
entry attempts may
be protected against without damaging the surrounding mounting surface.
Another advantage is
that the compression framing system may be retrofitted over an existing
window, such that said
compression framing system is disposed between the existing window and a
protective structure,
thus being inherently tamper proof due to only being accessible from the
internal environment,
without utilizing tamper-proof hardware. Another advantage is that each
friction shoes may be
configured to selectively pivot or rotate to be parallel with the mounting
surface, thus allowing
for the secure engagement of each friction shoe with the mounting surface.
[0008] In
another aspect, a compression framing system configured to engage with
opposing
mounting surfaces of a building opening is provided, the compression framing
system having at
least one compression frame, each compression frame comprising: a first
compression arm and a
second compression arm, each compression arm having: a hollow pipe body; a
connection
bracket secured to the hollow pipe body; and a friction shoe configured to
pivotally engage with
the hollow pipe body, the friction shoe being further configured to engage
directly with a
corresponding opposing mounting surface of the opposing mounting surfaces,
wherein the
pivotal engagement of the friction shoe with the hollow pipe body allows the
friction shoe to be
selectively rotated; an inner support beam configured to secure the first
compression arm to the
second compression arm; and an expansion controller associated with the hollow
pipe body of
the first compression arm; wherein the expansion controller is configured to
selectively adjust a
separation distance between the friction shoe of the first compression arm and
the friction shoe
of the second compression arm; wherein each connection bracket is configured
to engage with a
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-12-16
protective structure to secure the protective structure to the opposing
mounting surfaces, wherein
the protective structure is configured to secure the building opening. Again,
an advantage is that
the compression framing system may provide a mounting structure for securing a
protective
structure to be attached to a building without penetrating or damaging the
surrounding mounting
surface. Another advantage is the compression framing system may be easily
installed, serviced,
repaired, and maintained using standard tools. Another advantage is that the
expansion force
exerted by each compression frame of the compression framing system may be
selectively tuned
using the disclosed expansion controller based on the strength of the
surrounding mounting
surface and the desired level of protection. Another advantage is that forced
entry attempts may
be protected against without damaging the surrounding mounting surface.
Another advantage is
that the compression framing system may be retrofitted over an existing
window, such that said
compression framing system is disposed between the existing window and a
protective structure,
thus being inherently tamper proof due to only being accessible from the
internal environment,
without utilizing tamper-proof hardware. Another advantage is that each
friction shoes may be
configured to selectively pivot or rotate to be parallel with the mounting
surface, thus allowing
for the secure engagement of each friction shoe with the mounting surface
[0009] In
another aspect, a compression framing system configured to engage with
opposing
mounting surfaces of a building opening is provided, the compression framing
system having at
least one compression frame, each compression frame comprising: a first
compression arm and a
second compression arm, each compression arm having: a hollow pipe body; a
connection
bracket secured to the hollow pipe body; and a friction shoe associated with
the hollow pipe
body, the friction shoe being configured to engage directly with a
corresponding opposing
mounting surface of the opposing mounting surfaces; an inner support beam
configured to secure
the first compression arm to the second compression arm; and an expansion
controller associated
with the hollow pipe body of the first compression arm; wherein the expansion
controller is
configured to selectively adjust a separation distance between the friction
shoe of the first
compression arm and the friction shoe of the second compression arm; wherein
each connection
bracket is configured to engage with a protective structure to secure the
protective structure to
the opposing mounting surfaces, wherein the protective structure is configured
to secure the
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-12-16
building opening. Again, an advantage is that the compression framing system
may provide a
mounting structure for securing a protective structure to be attached to a
building without
penetrating or damaging the surrounding mounting surface. Another advantage is
the
compression framing system may be easily installed, serviced, repaired, and
maintained using
standard tools. Another advantage is that the expansion force exerted by each
compression frame
of the compression framing system may be selectively tuned using the disclosed
expansion
controller based on the strength of the surrounding mounting surface and the
desired level of
protection. Another advantage is that forced entry attempts may be protected
against without
damaging the surrounding mounting surface. Another advantage is that the
compression framing
system may be retrofitted over an existing window, such that said compression
framing system is
disposed between the existing window and a protective structure, thus being
inherently tamper
proof due to only being accessible from the internal environment, without
utilizing tamper-proof
hardware. Another advantage is that each friction shoes may be configured to
selectively pivot or
rotate to be parallel with the mounting surface, thus allowing for the secure
engagement of each
friction shoe with the mounting surface
[0010] The above aspects or examples and advantages, as well as other
aspects or examples
and advantages, will become apparent from the ensuing description and
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] For exemplification purposes, and not for limitation purposes,
aspects, embodiments
or examples of the invention are illustrated in the figures of the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates the partial sectional view of the disclosed
compression frame,
according to an aspect.
[0013] FIG. 2A-2C illustrate enlarged perspective views of an opposing end
of the disclosed
compression frame, according to an aspect.
[0014] FIG. 3A illustrates a compression frame installed within a recessed
opening, according
to an aspect.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-12-16
[0015] FIG. 3B illustrates a security glass frame being aligned for
engagement with an
installed compression frame, according to an aspect.
[0016] FIG. 3C illustrates a security glass frame installed within a
recessed opening through
the utilization of a compression framing system, according to an aspect.
[0017] FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate the perspective views of a compression
framing system
installed within a test buck, according to an aspect.
[0018] FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate a compression framing system undergoing
prolonged load
bearing testing using a test buck, according to an aspect.
[0019] FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate various striking implements being used to
attempt to dislodge
the disclosed compression framing system from a test buck, according to an
aspect.
[0020] FIG. 7A illustrates an embodiment of the disclosed compression frame
in the expanded
configuration, according to an aspect.
[0021] FIG. 7B illustrates an embodiment of the disclosed compression frame
in the
compressed configuration, according to an aspect.
[0022] FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of swivel plate engaged with a
friction shoe,
according to an aspect.
[0023] FIG. 9A illustrates a front cross-sectional view of an embodiment of
a compression
frame, according to an aspect.
[0024] FIG. 9B illustrates a perspective semi-transparent view of an
embodiment of a
compression frame, according to an aspect.
[0025] FIG. 9C illustrates a perspective semi-transparent view of an
embodiment of a
compression frame, according to an aspect.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] What follows is a description of various aspects, embodiments and/or
examples in
which the invention may be practiced. Reference will be made to the attached
drawings, and the
information included in the drawings is part of this detailed description. The
aspects, embodiments
and/or examples described herein are presented for exemplification purposes,
and not for limitation
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Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
purposes. It should be understood that structural and/or logical modifications
could be made by
someone of ordinary skills in the art without departing from the scope of the
invention. Therefore,
the scope of the invention is defined by the accompanying claims and their
equivalents.
[0027] It should be understood that, for clarity of the drawings and of the
specification, some
or all details about some structural components or steps that are known in the
art are not shown or
described if they are not necessary for the invention to be understood by one
of ordinary skills in
the art.
[0028] For the following description, it can be assumed that most
correspondingly labeled
elements across the figures (e.g., 105 and 205, etc.) possess the same
characteristics and are subject
to the same structure and function. If there is a difference between
correspondingly labeled
elements that is not pointed out, and this difference results in a non-
corresponding structure or
function of an element for a particular embodiment, example or aspect, then
the conflicting
description given for that particular embodiment, example or aspect shall
govern.
[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates the partial sectional view of the disclosed
compression frame 100,
according to an aspect. The disclosed compression framing system may be
comprised multiple
compression frames 100, each having a symmetrical arrangement of compression
arms 100a, 100b
configured to lodge the disclosed compression frame 100 within a recessed
opening through
frictional engagement with an overall, surrounding mounting surface, such as
surrounding
mounting surface 309 of FIG. 3A. The overall, surrounding mounting surface
("surrounding
mounting surface", "overall mounting surface") may be comprised of two
opposing mounting
surfaces, such as opposing mounting surfaces 309a, 309b of FIG 3A, that are
configured to engage
with corresponding friction shoes 105 of the compression frame, as will be
discussed in greater
detail hereinbelow. Said compression framing system may be configured to
provide a mounting
structure within said building opening for the attachment of protective
structure 106 such as a
security window, security glass frame, security panel, or other comparable
structure. The attached
protective structure 106 may be configured to provide a barrier between a
protected structure (such
as a building the protective structure 106 is being secured to) and an outside
environment, wherein
the protective 106 secures a building opening and resists forced entry
attempts through said
building opening, as will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow. The
first compression arm
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Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
100a may be depicted from a sectional perspective view, while the second
compression arm 100b
may be depicted from a front perspective view. The disclosed compression
framing system may
be configured for use within recessed openings and may be retrofitted over a
preexisting window,
such as preexisting window 311 of FIG 3A, thus protecting said preexisting
window with the
protective structure 106 and providing level 1 security against vandalism and
forced entry
attempts. Said compression framing system may utilize expansive forces exerted
by each
compression frame to facilitate engagement with the surrounding mounting
surface, thus providing
an attachment mechanism that does not require penetration of said surrounding
mounting surface,
adjusts to building settlement, is easily serviceable and does not leave holes
or residue in the
surrounding mounting surface when removed.
[0030] The disclosed compression frame 100 may be comprised of two
compression arms: a
first compression arm 100a and a second compression arm 100b, wherein each
compression arm
100a, 100b is disposed on a corresponding opposing end 100c of the compression
frame 100. Each
compression arm 100a, 100b may be comprised of a hollow pipe body 101, each
having an inner
body end 101a configured to be inserted over an inner support beam, such as
inner support beam
620 of FIGS. 6B-6C, and an outer body end 101b associated with the
corresponding structures that
are configured to engage with the surrounding mounting surface. Each hollow
pipe body 101 may
have a hollow inner core, such that the inner support beam may be partially
nested within the inner
body ends 101a of each hollow pipe body 101, or may otherwise engage with each
compression
arm 100a, 100b to secure the compression arms 100a, 100b together. Upon the
engagement of each
hollow pipe body 101 with the inner support beam, a middle gap, such as middle
gap 622 of FIGS.
6B-6C, may be formed between the two compression arms 100a, 100b. An expansion
seal 102
configured to surround the inner body ends 101a of each hollow pipe body 101
and an exposed
portion of the inner support beam may be utilized in order to cover the middle
gap, thus helping
maintain a unified visual appearance for the disclosed compression frame 100.
[0031] Each compression arm 100a, 100b may be further comprised of
connection bracket
("window overlay frame attachment") 103 secured to each corresponding hollow
pipe body 101.
These connection brackets 103 may be utilized to provide mounting points for a
protective
structure 106 to engage with each compression frame, in order to protect an
associated preexisting
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Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
window, door or other applicable structure from forced entries. The mounting
of the protective
structure 106 to each connection bracket 103 may be done easily while still
preventing
unauthorized disassembly and detachment of the protective structure 106 from
the external
environment of the protected structure by positioning the compression frames
100 between a pre-
existing window or comparable structure and the protective structure 106. In
an embodiment, a
protective structure 106 may be secured to each connection bracket 103 of each
compression frame
100 through the usage of conventional nuts and bolts, screws or another
suitable engagement
methods.
[0032] While not visible in FIG. 1, the first compression arm 100a and/or
the second
compression arm 100b may be further comprised of a corresponding keyed
spindle, such as keyed
spindle 207 of FIG. 2C. In an embodiment, each keyed spindle may be embedded
through the
surface of the corresponding hollow pipe body 101 in order to be accessible to
a user from the
outside of the hollow pipe 101, while also being engaged with a worm drive
nested within said
hollow pipe body 101, such as worm drive 926 of FIG. 9A. Said worm drive may
be engaged with
a threaded rod, such as threaded rod 208 of FIG. 2A, that is perpendicular to
keyed spindle, parallel
to the hollow pipe body and may travel through the outer body end 20 lb of
said hollow pipe body
201, as seen in FIG. 2A. Said threaded rod may be further associated with a
corresponding friction
shoe 105 disposed at a corresponding opposing end 100c of the compression
frame 100. In an
embodiment, the keyed spindle may be configured to be rotated to manipulate
the worm drive, in
order to influence how much a corresponding friction shoe 105 extends away
from the 10 lb outer
body end 101b of a corresponding hollow pipe body 101. The interconnection of
the keyed spindle,
worm drive, threaded rod and friction shoe will be discussed in greater detail
hereinbelow.
[0033] For simplicity, the keyed spindle, worm drive and threaded rod
together may be referred
to as an "expansion controller", wherein the expansion controller is
associated with the hollow
pipe body 101 of a corresponding compression arm 100a, 100b, and the keyed
spindle is
configured to be selectively manipulated to control the movement of the worm
drive, and thus the
threaded rod. In an embodiment, the keyed spindle may be engaged with a
corresponding friction
shoe 105 as well. Alternative embodiments of the expansion controller, such as
an expansion
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Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
controller configured to increase a distance between the first compression arm
100a and the second
compression arm 100b, will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow.
[0034] Each compression arm 100a, 100b may be further comprised of a swivel
plate 104
disposed on and/or associated with the outer body end 101b of each hollow pipe
body 101. This
swivel plate 104 may be secured to the hollow pipe body 101 by a swivel screw
104a and engaged
directly with a corresponding friction shoe 105. This swivel screw 104a may be
configured to
allow for the rotation/swiveling of the attached friction shoe 105 to ensure a
secure engagement of
said friction shoe 105 with a corresponding opposing mounting surface of the
overall, surrounding
mounting surface, by allowing the swivel plate 104 and an attached friction
shoe 105 to swivel to
conform to the angle of said opposing mounting surface. The selective
swiveling of each friction
shoes 105 about its pivotal engagement with the mounting frame 100 (by virtue
of the rotation of
the corresponding attached swivel plate 104) may allow for each friction shoe
105 to be rotated to
the necessary mounting angle to be parallel with the corresponding opposing
mounting surface, as
seen by friction shoe 205 engaging with surrounding mounting surface 209 of
FIG. 2C. The
selective swiveling of each friction shoe 105 may thusly facilitate the secure
engagement of the
compression frame 100 with the surrounding mounting surface, even for
surrounding mounting
surfaces having irregular shapes, (e.g., rounded, non-rectangular, etc.)
[0035] As disclosed hereinabove, each compression arm 100a, 100b may also
be further
comprised of a friction shoe 105 associated with the swivel plate 104, wherein
the friction shoe
105 is configured to frictionally engage with the surrounding mounting
surface. This frictional
engagement of the friction shoe with the surrounding mounting surface prevents
the corresponding
compression frame 100 from sliding or becoming dislodged or displaced from the
surrounding
mounting surface of the recessed opening during a forced entry attempt. The
strength of the
engagement between the friction shoes 105 and the surrounding mounting surface
may be modified
by increasing or decreasing the expansion force exerted by the compression
frame 100 on the
surrounding mounting surface. In order to adjust this expansion force, a keyed
spindle(s) may be
rotated to manipulate an internal worm drive(s). In an embodiment, rotation of
the keyed spindle
may manipulate the worm drive to extend or retract the friction shoe 105 away
from or back toward
the corresponding outer body end 101b, thus selectively modifying a separation
distance (shown
Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
as arrow 140) between the friction shoe 105 on the first compression arm 100a
and the friction
shoe 105 on the second compression arm 100b. In another embodiment,
manipulation of the keyed
spindle may manipulate a worm drive to selectively increase a separation
between the first
compression arm 100a and the second compression arm 100b themselves. The
utilization of the
keyed spindle and worm drive to modify the engagement strength of the
compression frame 100
with the surrounding engagement area will be discussed in greater detail
hereinbelow.
[0036] The disclosed compression framing system may utilize a unique method
of attachment
for securing itself to a surrounding mounting surface of a recessed opening
having stone cladding
or another type of cladding that cannot be drilled into. Instead of
penetrating said stone cladding,
each compression frame 100 may be configured to exert an expansive force on
the surrounding
mounting surface, thus firmly compressing itself within said surrounding
mounting surface. In
order to allow the compression frame 100 to securely grip the surrounding
mounting surface, said
compression frame may utilize the hereinabove mentioned friction shoes 105
disposed at and
engaged with the opposing ends 100c of said compression frame 100. These
friction shoes 105
may be made of a material that is sufficiently durable and rigid and has a
suitable texture, in order
to securely engage with the surrounding mounting surface through a combination
of the
aforementioned expansion force and frictional engagement between the opposing
mounting
surfaces and the friction shoes 105. In an embodiment, said friction shoes 105
may be made of
silicon carbide, and may be suitably textured to provide sufficient friction
when engaging with a
textured surface, such a granite brick.
[0037] By achieving high levels of friction between the opposing mounting
surfaces and the
friction shoes 105, the compression framing system, as well as any attached
protective structure
106, may be securely affixed to the surrounding mounting surface, thus
preventing the
compression framing system and protective structure 106 from being dislodged,
displaced or
otherwise removed from the surrounding mounting surface during forced entry
attempts. As
pressure is applied by the compression frame 100, the friction shoes 105 may
be configured to bite
into the surrounding mounting surface. A result of this biting into the
surrounding mounting surface
may be a high-level of friction and resistance to movement without noticeably
damaging said
surrounding mounting surface.
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[0038] In an embodiment, the disclosed compression framing system may be
comprised of at
least one compression frame 100, each compression frame having two compression
arms: a first
compression arm 100a and a second compression arm 100b. Each compression arm
100a, 100b
may be comprised of a hollow pipe body 101 having an inner body end 101a and
an outer body
end 10 lb, a connector bracket 103 associated with the hollow pipe body 101.
One or both
compression arms 100a, 100b may be further comprised of a keyed spindle
partially embedded
into the corresponding hollow pipe body 101, a worm drive nested within the
hollow pipe body
and a threaded rod embedded into the outer body end 10 lb of the corresponding
hollow pipe body
101 and engaged with and perpendicular to the keyed spindle. In certain
embodiments, the hollow
pipe body may be associated with a corresponding swivel plate 104 that itself
is associated with a
friction shoe 105, such that the friction shoe 105 may swivel to engage with
an opposing mounting
surface (not shown). In certain embodiments, the friction shoe 105 may not be
configured to
swivel, as seen in FIGS. 2A, 2B.
[0039] Each compression frame 100 may be further comprised of an inner
support beam, such
as inner support beam 620 of FIGS. 6B-6C, inserted or otherwise nested within
each corresponding
inner body end 101a and partially nested within both compression arms 100a,
100b to form a
middle gap between the two compression arms 100a, 100b. Additionally, each
compression frame
100 may have an expansion seal 102 configured to surround and seal the middle
gap while covering
the inner body end 101a of each hollow pipe bodies 101. Through adjustment of
the keyed spindle,
such as keyed spindle 207 of FIG. 2C, the engaged worm drive and attached
threaded rod may be
rotated to modify the separation between the friction shoe 105, selectively
increasing the expansion
force exerted on the surrounding mounting surface, thus further securing the
disclosed
compression framing system to said surrounding mounting surface.
[0040] FIG. 2A-2C illustrate enlarged perspective views of an opposing end
200c of the
disclosed compression frame, according to an aspect. As described hereinabove,
in an
embodiment, each keyed spindle ("spindle", "keyed shaft") 207, threaded rod
208, swivel plate
204 and friction shoe 205 may be disposed at the opposing ends 200c of a
compression frame
and/or the outer body ends 20 lb of each hollow pipe body 201. In an
embodiment, the rotation of
the keyed spindle 207 may be configured to rotate of the threaded rod 208 and
thus move of a
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Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
corresponding friction shoe 205 closer to or further from the hollow pipe body
201, depending on
the direction of said rotation. If the friction shoe 205 is already in contact
with the surrounding
mounting surface 209, an increased expansion force will be exerted on said
surrounding mounting
surface 209.
[0041] In certain embodiments, the swivel screw 204a may be used to secure
the swivel plate
204 to the corresponding hollow pipe body 201 while still allowing the swivel
plate to swivel as
necessary to allow the friction shoe 205 to engage with the surrounding
mounting surface 209 to
secure the compression frame within a recessed opening as needed. By
increasing the expansion
force exerted on the surrounding mounting surface 209 by the compression
frame, the frictional
engagement of the friction shoe 205 with said surrounding mounting surface 209
may be
strengthened, thus reducing the likelihood of the compression frame becoming
dislodged from an
impact to an attached protective structure. It should be understood that
certain embodiments may
be configured to facilitate pivoting of the friction shoes, as seen in FIG.
2C, while certain other
embodiments may lack a pivot plate and pivot screw, and this not allow for the
pivoting of the
friction shoes, as seen in FIG. 2A-2B. It should be understood that allowing
the friction shoes 205
to pivot may allow them to be rotated to be parallel with the surrounding
mounting surface 209,
or more specifically the corresponding opposing mounting surface 209a of the
surrounding
mounting surface 209 that the specific friction shoe 205 engages with
directly. As such, in an
embodiment, the contacting face 205c of a friction shoe 205 that is configured
to engage directly
with a corresponding opposing mounting surface 209a of the surrounding
mounting surface 209
may be configured to be parallel with the corresponding opposing mounting
surface 209a to
maximize the engagement area between the friction shoe 205 and the surrounding
mounting
surface 209, as seen in FIG. 2C.
[0042] In an embodiment, such as that of FIG. 2A or FIG. 2B, the threaded
rod 208 may be
both engaged with the keyed spindle 207 and the friction shoe 205, such that
rotation of the keyed
spindle 207 causes the rotation of the threaded rod 208 and thus resultant
extension or retraction
of the friction shoe 205 away from the corresponding hollow pipe body 201. Due
to the threaded
characteristic of the threaded rod 208, its rotation may cause the attached
friction shoe 205 to move
closer to or away from the keyed spindle 207, depending on the direction the
keyed spindle is
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Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
rotated. Again, if the friction shoe 205 is already in contact with the
surrounding mounting surface
209, the amount of expansive force exerted on the surrounding mounting surface
will increase or
decrease depending on the direction the keyed spindle 207 is rotated. The
threaded rod 208 may
be coaxially aligned with and partially nested within the hollow pipe body 201
of a corresponding
compression arm, whereas the keyed spindle 207 may be perpendicular to the
threaded rod 208, to
allow the keyed spindle to travel through the hollow pipe body 201 to provide
an easily accessible
engagement point for manipulating the worm drive and the attached threaded rod
208.
[0043] The positioning and quantity of the connection brackets 203 provided
by a compression
frame to mount a protective structure may be varied as necessary, depending on
the size and weight
of the protective structure being mounted. Larger or heavier protective
structures may require
additional connection brackets 203 on a central body portion of each
compression frame, as seen
in FIG. 3A, to ensure the protective structure is suitably secured within the
surrounding mounting
surface of the recessed opening. It should be understood that a compression
framing system having
a plurality of compression frames may be installed within a recessed opening,
such that each
protective structure may be secured within a recessed opening by each
perimeter portion of each
protective structure. In an embodiment, a two compression frames may be
installed within a
recessed opening, such that a singular rectangular protective structure may be
supported by four
connector brackets, as seen in FIG 4B, wherein each connector bracket is
sufficiently close to a
corresponding corner of the rectangular protective structure, to provide it
with sufficient support.
[0044] FIG. 3A illustrates a compression frame 300 installed within a
recessed opening 310,
according to an aspect. FIG. 3B illustrates a protective structure 306 being
aligned for engagement
with an installed compression frame 300, according to an aspect. FIG. 3C
illustrates a protective
structure 306 installed within a recessed opening 310 through the utilization
of a compression
framing system, according to an aspect. It should be understood that a
surrounding mounting
surface 309 is a portion of the recessed building opening ("recessed opening",
"building opening",
"opening") 310 that the compression framing system is configured to engage
with. More
specifically, the compression framing system may be configured to engage with
opposing
mounting surfaces 309a, 309b of an overall, surrounding mounting surface 309
of the building 350
to facilitate its secure engagement within the opening 310 of the building
350. A preexisting
14
Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
window 311, door or other structure may already exist within the recessed
opening 310, such that
a protective structure 306 is provided to protect the preexisting window 311
from being damaged,
while simultaneously preventing forced entry through said recessed opening
310.
[0045] The process of installing a protective structure 306 over a
preexisting window 311 may
begin with the installation of a compression frame 300 within the recessed
opening 310 between
the preexisting window 311 and the external environment (outside of the
building) 325, as seen in
FIG. 3A. It should be understood that multiple compression frames 300 may be
utilized to form a
compression framing system to properly support a protective structure 306.
Each compression
frame 300 may be configured to have a length slightly smaller than that width
of the recessed
opening 310, such that each compression frame 300 may be easily positioned
within the recessed
opening 310 during installation, and then have each of its keyed spindles,
such as keyed spindle
207 of FIG. 2C, rotated to extend out each friction shoe and/or compression
arm to securely engage
with the surrounding mounting surface 309 of said recessed opening 310. Each
compression frame
300 may be positioned horizontally to the window base/ground to suitably align
with non-
transparent portion (e.g., the frame portion) of a protective structure 306.
[0046] Next, a protective structure 306 may be inserted within the recessed
opening between
the compression framing system and the external environment 325, such that
each compression
frame 300 is disposed between the preexisting window 311 and the protective
structure 306. It
should be understood that the compression framing system may no longer be
accessible from the
external environment at this point, and that installation must continue from
the internal
environment (inside the building).
[0047] Finally, a protective structure 306 may be secured to the
compression frame(s) 300 by
securing the protective structure 306 to each connection bracket 303. The
connection brackets 303
may utilize mounting screws 303a to attach to the protective structure 306.
These mounting screws
303 may be accessed and manipulated by opening the preexisting window 311 from
the internal
environment.
[0048] By ensuring these mounting screws 303a and the other elements of the
compression
framing system are only accessible from the internal environment after
installation, individuals in
the external environment 325 will not be able to tamper with the compression
framing system, thus
Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
ensuring it is only accessed by authorized personnel. Despite being
inaccessible to individuals in
the external environment, the disclosed compression framing system may be
easily accessed by a
user in the internal environment by simply opening the preexisting window 311
and manipulating
each compression frame 300 using standard tools. This will allow for easy
installation,
maintenance, repair and replacement of parts as needed.
[0049] It should be understood that while each compression frame 300 of
compression framing
system is described as engaging with a surrounding mounting surface 309 of a
building 350, each
compression arm, such as first compression arm 700a and second compression arm
700b of FIG.
7A, of a compression frame may be engaged with a corresponding opposing
mounting surface
309a, 309b of the overall, surrounding mounting surface 309. In an embodiment,
the overall
mounting surface 309 of the building 350 may be comprised of a first opposing
mounting surface
309a and a second opposing mounting surface 309b, wherein a first compression
arm of a
compression frame 300 may be configured to engage with the first opposing
mounting surface
309a and the second compression arm of a compression frame may be configured
to engage with
the second opposing mounting surface. This engagement of the compression
framing system with
opposing mounting surfaces 309a, 309b of a recessed opening of a building will
be discussed in
greater detail hereinbelow.
[0050] FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate the perspective views of a compression
framing system 430
installed within a test buck 412, according to an aspect. As described
hereinabove, the purpose of
the disclosed compression framing system 430 is to provide a mounting
structure that is resistant
to being moved or displaced by a forced entry attempt without damaging or
penetrating the
surrounding mounting surface (the cladding/exterior) of a building that it
engages with.
Additionally, it is desirable for said compression framing system 430 to be
easy to install, service
and replace, while maintaining a desirable visual aesthetic. The disclosed
compression framing
system 430 of FIG 4A-4B may be comprised of two compression frames 400. In the
disclosed
embodiment, a test buck 412 was constructed from a steel pipe framework that
utilized concrete
filled masonry blocks as the surrounding mounting surface 409, thus creating a
simulated
surrounding mounting surface 409 having a surface texture comparable to those
found in the field.
The disclosed test buck 412 was utilized for the load bearing and forced entry
tests depicted in
16
Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
FIGS 5A-5B and FIGS 6A-6C, respectively. Unless otherwise noted, each element
of the disclosed
compression framing system 430 may be made of steel or another suitably strong
materiel to ensure
said compression framing system 430 is not damaged from a forced entry attempt
or other forces.
[0051] In the disclosed embodiment of FIGS 4A-4B, each compression frame
400 installed
within the test buck 412 may have two connector brackets, and thus 4 total
connector brackets on
the disclosed compression framing system 430. Each compression frame 400 was
installed within
the test buck between the provided opposing mounting surfaces 409a, 409b and
configured to exert
1600 lbs. of expansion force/pressure on the test buck 412. It should be noted
that the expansion
force/pressure of each compression frame 400 may be easily adjusted by using a
suitable tool to
rotate the prior disclosed keyed spindle, thus requiring no additional
adhesives or fasteners to
engage with the surrounding mounting surface. The friction shoes 405 may be
made of silicon
carbide, rubber or another suitable material that can facilitate secure
engagement with a
surrounding mounting surface 409 without damaging said surrounding mounting
surface 409.
Other elements of the compression frames 400 may be made of steel, durable
metal, or another
suitably durable material and may utilize weather resistant coatings to
maintain its integrity for
many years, even when exposed to extreme temperature.
[0052] As can also be seen in the disclosed embodiment in FIGS. 4A-4B, a
rectangular
protective structure 406 was secured to the compression framing system using
the provided
connector brackets, as disclosed hereinabove. In the disclosed embodiment,
said protective
structure 406 utilized Riot Glass AP375 impact resistant polycarbonate panels,
which may be
configured for use in the protection of historic buildings. In order to
provide suitable attachment
points for load testing the disclosed compression framing system 430, an L-
bracket 421 was
secured to each of the four corners of the protective structure 406. For the
tests disclosed below in
FIGS 5A-5B and FIGS 6A-6C, the friction shoes 405 were comprised from silicon
carbide, a
material which is sufficiently hard and has a suitable texture to frictionally
engage with the material
of the surrounding mounting surface 409 (e.g., concrete) without causing any
damage to it.
[0053] As can be seen in FIG. 4B, an embodiment of the compression framing
system 430
may be comprised of two compression frames: a first compression frame 400-1
and a second
compression frame 400-2. In order to provide a mounting structure with
suitably positioned
17
Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
engagement points (e.g., connector brackets, such as connector bracket 203 of
FIG. 2A), the first
compression frame 400-1 may be positioned such that it is parallel with the
second compression
frame 400-2. This may effectively result in corresponding connector brackets
on each compression
arm be evenly spaced from each other, thus forming a rectangular arrangement
of connector
brackets, wherein a singular connector bracket is positioned at each corner of
said rectangular
arrangement. This in turn may allow the connector brackets to engage with
corner portions of an
attached protective structure, thus allowing the compression framing system to
provide the
necessary support to hold the protective structure firmly in place within a
recessed opening, such
as recessed opening 310 of FIG. 3A.
[0054] As disclosed hereinabove, each compression arm 400a, 400b of a
compression frame
400 may be configured to engage directly with a corresponding opposing
mounting surface 409a,
409b of a building, accordingly. In an embodiment, each first compression arm
400a of each
compression frame 400 of a compression framing system 430 may be configured to
engage with a
first opposing mounting surface 409a, whereas each second compression arm 400b
of each
compression frame 400 of a compression framing system 430 may be configured to
engage with a
second opposing mounting surface 409b. It should be understood that the
friction shoe 405 of each
compression arm 400a, 400b is configured to engage directly with the
corresponding opposing
mounting surface 409a, 409b, accordingly.
[0055] FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate a compression framing system 530 undergoing
prolonged load
bearing testing using a test buck 512, according to an aspect. The following
test was performed to
assess how the disclosed compression framing system 530 resists displacement
and slippage from
the surrounding mounting surface while a significant force is applied to the
attached protective
structure for a prolonged period of time. The friction shoes 505 were deployed
into the surrounding
mounting surface of the test buck 512 at a force of 1000 lbs. per compression
frame. This expansion
force was calculated from linear data correlating ft lb. torque at adjustment
spindle and lbs. of
expansion force between friction shoes 505. In the disclosed embodiment, the
hereinabove
disclosed L-brackets 521 were secured to a forklift 515 by chains 514. The
protective structure,
which was secured to the test buck 512 by the compression frames of the
compression framing
system, was suspended from by the attached L-brackets 521.
18
Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
[0056] When the test buck was hoisted by the forklift, as seen in FIG 5B,
the weight of the
test buck 512 was exerted on the friction shoes 505 as a downward force of
approximately 872 lbs.
The force exerted on the friction shoes 505 was calculated using the attached
force gauge 513. The
test buck 512 was suspended for approximately one hour and the compression
framing system 530
held firmly in place and did not show any signs of slipping or otherwise
becoming displaced.
[0057] The results of this prolonged load test indicated that the disclosed
compression framing
system 530 is configured to resist significant forces for extended periods of
times without slipping
or being displaced. It should be understood that the force exerted by each
compression frame 500
on the surrounding mounting surface may be modified based on its application
in order to
maximize the amount of force the compression framing system 530 can withstand,
while also
minimizing the potential of damage to the surface of the mounting structure.
[0058] FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate various striking implements being used to
attempt to dislodge
the disclosed compression framing system from a test buck 612, according to an
aspect. In order
to assess if the disclosed compression framing system 630 was capable of
withstanding an abrupt
impact, an embodiment of the compression framing system 630 was installed
within a test buck
612 as disclosed hereinabove in FIGS. 4A-4B. The test buck 612 was positioned
vertically during
testing, to simulate the standard orientation of the compression framing
system 630 after being
retrofitted over a preexisting window, as seen in FIG. 3A-3C.
[0059] As disclosed hereinabove, each compression arm 600a, 600b of a
compression frame
600 may nest around and engage with an inner support beam 620, such that a
middle gap 622 is
formed between the two compression arms 600a, 600b. This inner support beam
620 may be a
hollow pipe having a suitable wall thickness to withstand the forces exerted
by the compression
framing system 630 without being damaged or deformed. In an embodiment, the
inner support
beam 620 may be configured to be at least partially nested within the inner
body end of the first
compression arm 600a and partially nested within the inner body end of the
second compression
arm 600b to secure the first compression arm to the second compression arm, as
can be seen in
FIG. 7A-7B. While omitted in FIGS. 6A-6C, an expansion seal, such as expansion
seal 102 of
FIG. 1, may be provided to cover the middle gap 622 between the two
compression arms 600a,
19
Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
600b to provide a unified appearance and prevent proliferation of materials
into the middle gap
622
[0060] In the embodiment of FIG. 6A, a tester 616 used a baseball bat 617
to repeatedly strike
the protective structure 606 held by the compression framing system 630. While
the expansion
force of each compression frame 600 was set to 1000 lbs., the compression
framing system 630
was not displaced or deformed and provided no indication of slippage from
being repeatedly struck
with said baseball bat 617.
[0061] In the embodiment of FIG. 6B, a tester 616 used a 21-ounce framing
hammer 618 to
repeatedly strike the protective structure 606 held by the compression framing
system 630. While
the expansion force of each expansion frame 600 was set to 1000 lbs., the
compression framing
system 630 was not displaced or deformed and provided no indication of
slippage from being
repeatedly struck with the said framing hammer 618.
[0062] In the embodiment of FIG. 6C, a tester 616 used a 13-pound
sledgehammer 619 to
strike the protective structure 606 held by the compression framing system
630. In order to suitably
resist slippage from the increased impact force of the 13-pound sledgehammer
619, the expansion
force of each compression frame was set to 1600 lbs. While the expansion force
of each expansion
frame was set to 1600 lbs., the compression framing system 630 was not
displaced or deformed
and provided no indication of slippage from being repeatedly struck with the
said sledgehammer
619.
[0063] As illustrated by the test results disclosed hereinabove, through
utilization of the proper
operating conditions, the disclosed compression framing system 630 having two
compression
frames 600 provides exceptional protection against the above-described
striking implements, as
well as their equivalents. In each of the above tests, the friction shoes 605
of the compression
frames 600 remained frictionally engaged with the surrounding mounting surface
without being
displaced, thus indicating that the compression framing system 630 was capable
of repelling these
simulated forced entry attempts without being displaced. Furthermore, even at
the greater
expansion force of 1600 lbs., per compression frame 600, the compression
framing system did not
damage or mar the surrounding mounting surface 609. It should be understood
that the
compression frames 600 may be configured to provide up to 6000 lbs. of
expansion force per pair
Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
of compression frames 600 (3000 lbs. of force per compression frame), so
forced entry attempts
using larger, heavier objects may also be repelled as necessary through
suitable adjustments to the
utilized expansion force.
[0064] Post installation adjustments may be required and easily provided by
maintenance
personnel using appropriate torque values provided by the manufacturer to
adjust the rotation of
the keyed adjustment spindles, such as keyed spindle 207 of FIG. 2C.
Adjustments and
maintenance may be easily performed on the compression framing system 630
through the
utilization of standard tools, as tamper resistant materials, such as tamper
resistant screws, are not
required, given that said compression framing system 630 may be positioned
between the
preexisting window and the installed protective structure, and thus may remain
inaccessible from
the external environment.
[0065] FIG. 7A illustrates an embodiment of the disclosed compression frame
700 in the
expanded configuration, according to an aspect. FIG. 7B illustrates an
embodiment of the
disclosed compression frame 700 in the compressed configuration, according to
an aspect. As can
be seen in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, the mechanism through which the hereinbelow
disclosed
compression frame 700 expands in order to secure itself within a surrounding
mounting surface
may differ from certain prior disclosed embodiments. The hereinbelow disclosed
compression
frame 700 embodiment of FIG 7A-7B may only utilize one keyed spindle 707 that
is directly
associated with a first compression arm 700a in order to suitably adjust the
expansion (e.g., length)
of the compression frame 700. The second compression arm 700b, in contrast,
may not be directly
engaged with a keyed spindle 707. Furthermore, the keyed spindle 707
associated with a first
compression arm 700a may engage with an internally disposed worm drive (not
shown) that is
configured to selectively move the second compression arm 700b away from the
first compression
arm 700a, thus increasing the separation between the corresponding friction
shoes 700. This
extension of the second compression arm 700b may be controlled by rotating the
keyed spindle
707, as depicted in FIG. 7B, and disclosed hereinabove. This extension of the
second compression
arm 700b away from the first compression arm 700a may effectively increases
the length of the
compression frame 700, allowing its friction shoes 705 to engage with the
surrounding surface
more securely and with greater force. The inner support beam 720 may remain
partially nested
21
Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
within the body portions 101 of both compression arms 700a, 700b to ensure
that the compression
arms 700a, 700b remain suitably interconnected.
[0066] As such, the middle gap 722 may be larger in configurations in which
the second
compression arm 700b is extended further from the first compression 700a, as
depicted in FIG. 7A
and smaller when it is not, as depicted in FIG. 7B. Aside from the
aforementioned change in the
way the expansion controller increases the effective length of the compression
frame 700 (e.g.
extends the friction shoes 705), the other disclosed elements of the
compression frame 700 may
be largely unchanged. The connection brackets 703 may still be utilized to
engage with a protective
structure such as a transparent security panel to protect the preexisting
window, or other suitable
structure, from forced entry, vandalism, small arms fire, etc. Additionally,
swivel screws 704a may
engage with a swivel plate 704 and corresponding hollow pipe body 701 to allow
the swivel plate
704 (and thus the attached friction shoes 705) to swivel accordingly, as
depicted in FIG 7A, to
facilitate suitable engagement of each friction shoe 705 with a surrounding
mounting surface.
[0067] As disclosed hereinabove, the utilization of compression frame 700
of FIG. 7A-7B
within a compression framing system may result in a different arrangement for
the overall
compression framing system. Said compression framing system may have at least
one
compression frame 700, each compression frame 700 comprising two compression
arms: a first
compression arm 700a and a second compression arm 700b, wherein each
compression arm
700a, 700b is disposed on a corresponding opposing end 700c of the compression
frame. Each
compression arm 700a, 700b may be comprised of a hollow pipe body 701, a
connection bracket
703 secured to the hollow pipe body 700 and configured to engage with a
protective structure,
and a friction shoe 705 associated with the hollow pipe body 700, said
friction shoe 705 being
configured to engage directly with the surrounding mounting surface. Each
friction shoe 705
may be secured to a corresponding hollow pipe body 701 through engagement with
a swivel
plate 704, wherein the swivel plate 704 is configured to pivotally attach to a
corresponding
hollow pipe body 701.
[0068] Said compression framing system may be further comprised of an inner
support beam
720 configured to engage with the hollow pipe body 701 of each compression arm
700a, 700b to
secure the two compression arms together and an expansion controller
associated with one of the
22
Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
hollow pipe bodies of the first compression arm 700a. In order to enable the
compression frame's
engagement with the surrounding mounting surface, the expansion controller may
be configured
to adjust the separation between the friction shoes on opposing compression
arms 700a, 700b of
a compression frame 700 by increasing the separation between the two
compression arms
themselves. By rotating the keyed spindle 707 on the associated first
compression arm 700a, the
internally concealed worm drive may increase the overall length of the
compression frame 700
by sliding the second compression arm 700b along the inner support beam 720,
while still
keeping the two compression arms secured together by said inner support beam
720.
[0069] FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of swivel plate ("pivot
plate") 804 engaged with
a friction shoe 805, according to an aspect. As can be seen in FIG. 8, each
friction shoe 805 may
be further comprised of a carbide covered steel cover(s) ("carbide¨chip sole",
"sole", "cover")
805b configured to provide a suitable gripping surface on each compression
frame to facilitate
secure engagement with a rough surface for mounting. As such, a friction shoe
805 may be
comprised of two friction shoe blocks 805a and two covers 805b, wherein the
two friction shoe
blocks 805a are configured engage directly with the swivel plate 804 and a
corresponding cover
805b. Each friction shoe block 805a may be configured to engage with a cover
805b, such that the
cover 805b engages directly with the surrounding mounting surface. In such an
embodiment, the
friction shoe blocks 805a may be made of rubber, which the covers 805b may be
made of silicon
carbide. The rubber of friction shoe blocks 805a may be configured to be
sufficiently compressible
and the silicon carbide of the cover 805b may be configured to provide
sufficient friction to allow
the associated compression frame to engage securely with the opposing mounting
surfaces without
causing any damage to either opposing mounting surface. In an embodiment, a
swivel plate 804
may be comprised of a pair of screw ports 804b configured to engage with a
swivel screw, such as
swivel screw 704a of FIG. 7A, to facilitate pivotal engagement of the swivel
plate 804 with
corresponding hollow pipe body.
[0070] The provided carbide-chip soles 805b may be configured to provide an
anti-slip surface
configured for use with stone surfaces but said carbide-chip soles 805b may be
adjusted or
modified accordingly for engagement with different surfaces. As disclosed
hereinabove, the
friction shoe 805 may be suitably attached to the swivel plate 804 to ensure
their proper
23
Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
engagement between the surrounding mounting surface and the hollow pipe body
of the
corresponding compression frame. The swivel plate 804 may be welded, or
otherwise secured,
directly to the friction shoes 805, in order to ensure a secure attachment of
said elements. The
covers 805b may also be secured to the friction shoe blocks 805a through any
suitable method,
including welding or strong adhesives. Each friction shoe may be about 1 inch
thick to provide a
suitable buffer between the swivel plate 804 and the surrounding mounting
surface.
[0071] As described hereinabove, the herein disclosed compression framing
system is
configured to expand within a recessed opening or other suitable surrounding
mounting surface to
provide a solid mounting structure for a protective structure, security cover
attachment, etc. The
disclosed compression frames of the compression framing system provide a
mechanism for
mounting structures, such as security windows, within surrounding mounting
surfaces that do not
allow drilling, such as many state or federal building from the early 1900's.
By utilizing a suitable
material for the friction shoe 805 or cover 805b, this disclosed non-
destructive mounting system
may be implemented without damaging the outer surfaces of historical
structures, thus providing
a mechanism to protect these historical structures without damaging them in
the process.
[0072] FIG. 9A illustrates a front cross-sectional view of an embodiment of
a compression
frame 900, according to an aspect. FIG. 9B illustrates a perspective semi-
transparent view of an
embodiment of a compression frame 900, according to an aspect. FIG. 9C
illustrates a perspective
semi-transparent view of an embodiment of a compression frame 900, according
to an aspect. As
discloses hereinabove, certain embodiments of the compression frame 900 may
utilize an
internally disposed worm drive 926 that is configured to selectively move the
second compression
arm 900b away from the first compression arm 900a. To facilitate movement of
the second
compression arm 900b as described hereinabove, a keyed spindle 907 that is
partially nested within
the hollow pipe body 901 of the first compression arm 900a may be configured
to engage with a
worm drive 926 that is nested within the hollow pipe body 901 of the first
compression arm 900a.
[0073] The worm drive 926 may be further engaged with a threaded rod 908,
wherein the
threaded rod 908 is engaged with a threaded block 927, wherein the threaded
block 927 may be
welded to, or otherwise engaged with, the inner support beam 920, such that
rotation of worm
drive 926 and threaded rod 908 results in extension (or retraction) of the
inner support beam 920
24
Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
away from (or toward) the first compression arm 900a. The inner support beam
920 may be further
configured to engage with a pressure plate 928 nested within the second
compression arm 900b,
such that the extension of the inner support beam 920 results in the extension
of the second
compression arm 900b away from the first compression arm 900a, as described
hereinabove. As
such, the inner support beam 920 may be nested within the first compression
arm 900a such that
it partially telescopes out of the hollow pipe body 901a of the first
compression arm 900a as it
extends, thus increasing the separation distance 924 between the friction
shoes 905, as well as the
distance between the compression arms 900a, 900b themselves. In short, the
inner support beam
920 may be engaged with the expansion controller to facilitate the movement of
the second
compression arm 900b away from the first compression arm 900a, which may be
used to increase
the expansion force exerted on a surrounding mounting surface. In an
embodiment,
counterclockwise rotation of the keyed spindle may result in the extension of
the second
compression arm 900b away from the first compression arm 900a.
[0074]
As disclosed hereinabove, the term expansion controller 924 may be used to
describe
the combination of the worm drive 926, threaded rod 908 and the keyed spindle
907, wherein
manipulation of expansion controller 924 is configured modify the overall
length of a compression
frame 900 and/or the expansion force it exerts on the surrounding mounting
surface. As can be
seen in FIG. 9A-9B, because the keyed spindle 907 and threaded rod 908 are
perpendicular to each
other, an additional transmission element in the form of a worm drive 926 may
be utilized to allow
the rotation of the key spindle 907 to rotate of the threaded rod 908. The
worm drive 926 may be
nested within the hollow pipe body 901 of the first compression arm 900a and
configured to engage
with the keyed spindle 907 and the threaded rod 908. The worm drive 926 may be
comprised of a
vertical gear 926a configured to engage with the keyed spindle 907 and a
horizontal gear 926b
configured to engage with the threaded rod 908, wherein the vertical gear 926a
is configured to
further engage with the horizontal gear 926b to convert the rotational
direction as depicted in FIG.
9A. As such, the engagement of the worm drive 926 with the keyed spindle 907
and the threaded
rod 908 allows a user to rotate the keyed spindle 907 to increase the length
of the compression
frame 900 or the expansion force exerted by the compression frame 900 on the
surrounding
mounting surface, accordingly. For simplicity, it may be stated that the keyed
spindle 907 is
Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
engaged with the worm drive 926, such that rotation of the keyed spindle
results in increasing the
separation distance 940 between the friction shoes 905.
[0075] It should be understood that in embodiments wherein a friction shoe
is configured to
be extended away from the corresponding compression arm, such as friction shoe
205 of FIG. 2A.
a comparable worm drive structure may be utilized to convert the rotation of
the corresponding
keyed spindle 207 into rotation of the threaded rod 208 and subsequent
extension of the friction
shoe 205 away from the corresponding hollow pipe body 201, to increase the
length of and/or
expansion force by the compression frame 200.
[0076] In an embodiment, a user may place the compression frame 900 within
an applicable
recessed opening, such as recessed opening 310 of FIG. 3A, rotate the keyed
spindle 907 until
each friction shoe 909 is engaged with a corresponding opposing mounting
surface, and then
continue to rotate the keyed spindle 907 until the compression frame exerts
the necessary
expansion force to remain securely affixed to the opposing mounting surfaces
of the surrounding
mounting surface. Each compression frame 900 of a compression framing system
may exert the
same expansion force upon the applicable surrounding mounting surface to
prevent uneven force
exertion on said surrounding mounting surface, unless it is desirable to do
so.
[0077] In alternative embodiments, the structure of the expansion
controller 924 may be
modified as necessary to include different types of structures configured to
allow a user to
manipulate the length of and expansive force exerted by the expansion
controller 924. Other
embodiments of the expansion controller 924 may utilize pneumatics, hydraulics
or other suitable
mechanical means to allow for selective manipulation of the compression arms.
In an embodiment,
the hollow pipe body 901 of the first compression arm 900a may be configured
to be airtight, such
that an attached pressurized air source may be used to selectively control the
movement of the
inner support beam, and thus the second compression arm, thus allowing the
compression frame
to operate similarly to a pneumatic cylinder. In an alternative variation of
the above embodiment,
the air may be replaced with a hydraulic fluid, such that the compression
frame operates similarly
to a hydraulic cylinder. As such, the term expansion controller may be
understood to encompass a
wide range of devices configured to facilitate manipulation of the
length/expansive force of the
26
Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
compression frame 900, including but not limited to pneumatics, hydraulics,
and comparable
mechanical equivalents.
[0078] It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and
phrases used in this
patent document. The term "couple" and its derivatives refer to any direct or
indirect
communication between two or more elements, whether or not those elements are
in physical
contact with one another. The term "or" is inclusive, meaning and/or. The
phrases "associated with"
and "associated therewith," as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to
include, be included within,
interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to
or with, be
communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be
bound to or with,
have, have a property of, or the like.
[0079] Further, as used in this application, "plurality" means two or more.
A "set" of items may
include one or more of such items. Whether in the written description or the
claims, the terms
"comprising," "including," "carrying," "having," "containing," "involving,"
and the like are to be
understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only
the transitional
phrases "consisting of" and "consisting essentially of," respectively, are
closed or semi-closed
transitional phrases with respect to claims.
[0080] If present, use of ordinal terms such as "first," "second," "third,"
etc., in the claims to
modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence or
order of one claim
element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are
performed. These terms
are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain
name from another
element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish
the claim elements. As
used in this application, "and/or" means that the listed items are
alternatives, but the alternatives
also include any combination of the listed items.
[0081] Throughout this description, the aspects, embodiments or examples
shown should be
considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on the apparatus or
procedures disclosed or
claimed. Although some of the examples may involve specific combinations of
method acts or
system elements, it should be understood that those acts and those elements
may be combined in
other ways to accomplish the same objectives.
27
Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
[0082] Acts, elements and features discussed only in connection with one
aspect, embodiment
or example are not intended to be excluded from a similar role(s) in other
aspects, embodiments
or examples.
[0083] Aspects, embodiments or examples of the invention may be described
as processes,
which are usually depicted using a flowchart, a flow diagram, a structure
diagram, or a block
diagram. Although a flowchart may depict the operations as a sequential
process, many of the
operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the
order of the operations
may be re-arranged. With regard to flowcharts, it should be understood that
additional and fewer
steps may be taken, and the steps as shown may be combined or further refined
to achieve the
described methods.
[0084] If means-plus-function limitations are recited in the claims, the
means are not intended
to be limited to the means disclosed in this application for performing the
recited function, but are
intended to cover in scope any equivalent means, known now or later developed,
for performing
the recited function.
[0085] Claim limitations should be construed as means-plus-function
limitations only if the
claim recites the term "means" in association with a recited function.
[0086] If any presented, the claims directed to a method and/or process
should not be limited
to the performance of their steps in the order written, and one skilled in the
art can readily
appreciate that the sequences may be varied and still remain within the spirit
and scope of the
present invention.
[0087] Although aspects, embodiments and/or examples have been illustrated
and described
herein, someone of ordinary skills in the art will easily detect alternate of
the same and/or
equivalent variations, which may be capable of achieving the same results, and
which may be
substituted for the aspects, embodiments and/or examples illustrated and
described herein, without
departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of this
application is intended to
cover such alternate aspects, embodiments and/or examples. Hence, the scope of
the invention is
defined by the accompanying claims and their equivalents. Further, each and
every claim is
incorporated as further disclosure into the specification.
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Date Recue/D ate Received 2022-12-16
