The use of wood, plastic or metal to protect a window during a storm is well known in the prior art. Typically, during a storm, the protective panel is placed over a window or door of a structure and attached by using nails or screws. However, the use of nails or screws often prevents the panels from being removed from the structure in a quick and easy manner.
To overcome this problem, several solutions have been developed. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 6,532,702 to Scribner discloses a building fixture protection apparatus having protective panels and means to quickly connect and disconnect the protective panels from outside the building, such as windows and doors. U.S. Pat. No. 7,062,884 to Jaycox et al. discloses a locking assembly for retaining a pair of shutters in a closed position during inclement weather that allows for quick locking and unlocking of the pair of shutters from inside the building.
In a case where the connection means such as that of Scribner is used to secure a protective panel to protect the window of the structure, an individual who is inside the structure cannot exit the structure as the connection means only allows for removal of the panels from outside the building. In a case where the locking assembly of Jaycox et al. is used to secure shutters in a closed position, an individual such as a fireman who wishes to enter the building in order to secure the safety of the individuals inside the building is prevented from doing so as the locking assembly only allows for removal of the apir of shutters from within a building.
This invention provides a fastener for securing a protective panel to a structure that allows the protective panel to be removed from both the inside and the outside of the structure.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, a fastener for removably securing a protective panel to a structure comprises a shaft having a first portion to be frictionally inserted into the structure and a second portion protruding from the structure. The shaft includes a first opening extending through the second portion of the shaft. The fastener also comprises a sleeve sized to fit over the second portion of the shaft. The sleeve includes second and third openings extending through the sleeve that are spaced apart by a distance greater than a thickness of the protective panel to be secured to the structure. The second opening corresponds to the first opening in the shaft and the third opening is located in the sleeve beyond an end of the second portion of the shaft when the first and second openings are aligned. The fastener also comprises a first pin that is insertable into the first and second openings and a second pin that is insertable into the third opening to position the protective panel between the first and second pins.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment, a method for removably securing a protective panel to a structure comprises frictionally inserting the first portion of the shaft into the structure with the second portion of the shaft protruding from the structure, locating the sleeve over the second portion of the shaft, and aligning the first and second openings. Further, the protective panel is mounted on the sleeve between the aligned first and second openings and the third opening. The first pin is inserted into the first and second openings on an interior side of the panel and the second pin is inserted into the third opening on an exterior side of the panel.
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are labeled with like numbers and in which:
The fastener of the exemplary embodiment includes a shaft 7. The shaft 7 includes a first portion 9 and a second portion 11 having a first opening 13 extending therethrough. The first portion 9 of the shaft 7 is frictionally inserted into the structure 5 such that the first portion is fixed to the structure 5, and the second portion of the shaft 7 protrudes from the structure 5. The first portion 9 may be frictionally inserted into the structure 5 by any known means, i.e., bolts, nails, or glue.
As shown in
The sleeve 15 includes a second opening 17 and a third opening 19 that extend through the sleeve 15. The second opening 17 and the third opening 19 are spaced apart by a distance greater than a thickness of the protective panel 3. The sleeve 15 is slid over the shaft 7 so that the second opening 17 is aligned with the first opening 13 of the shaft 7. Because the second opening 17 and the third opening 19 are spaced apart by a distance greater than a thickness of the protective panel 3, the third opening 19 is located beyond an end of the second portion 11 of the shaft 7 when the first opening 13 and the second opening 17 are aligned, as illustrated in
Once constructed, the exemplary fastener 1 and protective panel 3 shown in
While this invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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2622285 | Roos | Dec 1952 | A |
3552775 | Warner | Jan 1971 | A |
4562666 | Young, III | Jan 1986 | A |
5320439 | Perrault et al. | Jun 1994 | A |
5335452 | Taylor | Aug 1994 | A |
5347775 | Santos | Sep 1994 | A |
5562360 | Huang | Oct 1996 | A |
5722206 | McDonald | Mar 1998 | A |
6202282 | Holdsworth | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6393777 | Renfrow | May 2002 | B1 |
6532702 | Scribner | Mar 2003 | B1 |
6745522 | Germain | Jun 2004 | B2 |
7062884 | Jaycox et al. | Jun 2006 | B2 |
20070107328 | Munch | May 2007 | A1 |
20080196333 | Tyler | Aug 2008 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20090136292 A1 | May 2009 | US |