Patent Application
20190186193
This invention relates to security devices and safety barriers for construction sites and more particularly a barrier for covering rough openings in a structure, such as garage doors, entry doors and windows during the construction process.
Construction sites are frequently victimized by vandalism or the theft of machinery, equipment, tools, and materials. In addition, construction sites can be attractive nuisances for trespassers, such as neighbors and/or juveniles, merely interested in looking around a job site and inspecting a building while under construction.
Many buildings are open to entry by unauthorized individuals and to the elements for extended periods of time while waiting for permanent doors and windows to be installed. These rough openings may be sealed using plywood which is screwed into place over garage doors, entry doors, and/or windows. However, this is a time consuming process that requires a large amount of hard material and labor to put up and take down every day.
Therefore, a need exists for a barrier for covering rough openings in a structure, such as garage doors, entry doors, and windows during the construction process that does not have to be fully removed to gain entry, exit and/or airflow through the opening.
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a barrier for covering rough openings in a structure, such as garage doors, entry doors, and windows during the construction process that does not have to be fully removed to gain entry, exit and/or airflow through the opening.
The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a temporary barrier for rough openings of structures during construction, such as garage doors, entry doors and windows. The barrier is a flexible panel that is attached to a frame of an opening via a plurality of grommets spaced apart along edges of the panel. The grommets may be secured to the wooden frame of a rough opening via screws or other fastening devices. At least one edge of the panel is left unattached to the frame of the rough opening in instances where one edge of the opening does not provide any attachment points, such as a concrete garage floor, a threshold of a door, a concrete header and so forth. The unattached edge is preferably supported by a cable that traverses the unattached edge. The unsecured edge and cable allows a central portion of the panel to be opened using one or more zippers. When the one or more zippers are opened, the central portion of the panel may be rolled out of the way and stored in a retracted position.
Locking brackets, such as eyelets, U-bolts, and so forth, are preferably secured to the frame of the rough opening at opposing sides of the unattached edge to support the cable. In addition, the locking brackets provide an attachment point for one or more locks that secure the one or more zippers in closed and locked positions.
The panel may be made of a weather resistant material, such as plastic and/or metal mesh or equivalent material that is difficult to cut through in order to provide additional security.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.
In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:
For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered accessories in the drawings is as follows:
With reference to
A plurality of apertures 13, such as reinforced grommets 14, are spaced apart along the edges of the panel 5.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
At least one zipper 21 is located parallel to the first side edge 8 and top side edge 7 to allow a central portion 23 of the panel 5 to be opened. As illustrated in
The flexible panel 5 may be made of a weather resistant material, such as plastic and/or metal mesh or equivalent material that is difficult to cut through in order to provide additional security and protection from rain and other inclement weather. An additional feature of the present invention may comprise an audible alarm 25 that emits an alert when a circuit is broken. The circuit may be created by one or more wires 26 extending horizontally and/or vertically across the barrier 1 and connected the alarm 25, as illustrated in
It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.
