Security bar assembly

Abstract

A security bar assembly has a plurality of bars that extend across an opening and have ends joined to drive chains to provide an easily removable assembly. The bars extend between two channels positioned on opposite faces of the opening, and are slidable within the channels. The ends of the bars are retained in the channels and the ends have connections to chain links in opposing drive chains which are spaced apart a predetermined number of links to keep the bars a predetermined distance apart. A drive mechanism is provided for moving the drive chains to slide the bars in the channels and a storage area adjacent the opening associated with the channels to retain the bars when they are not in place over the opening.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a security bar assembly for a window or door opening in a building.

There is a requirement for security bars to be used in front of windows and doors and particularly in front of storefronts and the like. Such security bars are needed to deter break in attempts into a building. There are various types of security bars and shutters available. Some of the shutters are designed for weather protection such a hurricanes as well as security.

If the opening is wide, then the security bars generally have links joining the bars together to prevent the bars being bent to force an opening between bars. However, if the opening is not wide, for example, a small household window, then it is not needed to have links joining the bars together provided they are rigidly held at each end.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

In application Ser. No. 08/820,847 is disclosed a foldable security bar assembly with links joining horizontal bars together wherein only one bar need be attached to a raising and lowering mechanism in channels on both sides of the opening. We have now found that by using a drive chain in each of the channels on either side of the opening and by having a connection between each horizontal bar and opposing connecting links spaced evenly apart in each of the drive chains, we can retain the spacing between the bars and also ensure that each bar is rigidly held within the channel on each side and does not move. Connecting links may be provided between the bars for wide openings, but these connecting links are for the purpose of additional strength to help prevent the bars from being pried apart in the center and may not be needed for retaining the spacing between the bars.

When connecting links are not required between bars, one does not have the necessity of folding bars and connecting links but can store the bars in a stored configuration or a container adjacent the opening and arrange to feed each bar to join opposing connecting links of drive chains on opposing faces of the opening so they are positioned and spaced apart for the full opening or a portion of the opening as required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a security bar assembly for an opening comprising a plurality of bars extending between two channels, the two channels positioned one on opposite faces of the opening, the bars slidable within the channels and having ends of the bars retained in the channels over the opening; the two channels having bar drive chains having adjoining chain links guided within the two channels; each of the bars having a connection at each end to engage in chain links in the drive chains, the engaged chain links spaced apart a predetermined number of chain links in each of the drive chains, and retaining the bars a predetermined distance apart; a drive mechanism for moving the drive chains at substantially the same speed to slide the bars in the channels over the opening, and a storage area adjacent the opening associated with the channels to retain the bars when they are not in place over the opening.

The present invention also provides a method of forming a security bar assembly in an opening including a plurality of security bars, the bars having retained ends extending between two channels on opposing faces of the opening and slidable therein, comprising the steps of moving drive chains in guides within the two channels, the drive chains having adjoining chain links; feeding opposing retained ends of a first bar to engage in first chain links of the drive chains so the first bar slides across the opening; feeding a second bar to engage in second chain links spaced a predetermined number of chain links from the first chain links, and continuing moving the drive chains and engaging further bars in further chain links spaced the predetermined number of chain links apart until the security bar assembly covers the opening.

There is also provided in the present invention a method of forming a security bar assembly in an opening including a plurality of security bars having retained ends engaged in chain links of drive chains guided in two channels on opposite faces of the opening and slidable therein, comprising the steps of moving the drive chains in guides within the two channels until a first bar having ends engaged in first chain links of the drive chains slides across the opening; continuing moving the drive chains in the guides until a second bar having ends engaged in second chain links of the drive chains slides across the opening, and further moving the drive chains with further bars engaged in further chain links until the security bar assembly covers the opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the present invention,

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view showing one embodiment of a portion of a security bar assembly with a drive chain in a side channel,

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a side channel and container for holding bars with connecting links in a stored configuration above an opening,

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a side channel and container for holding bars with links in a stored configuration below an opening,

FIG. 4 is a detailed front view showing a drive chain and sprocket for engaging ends of bars,

FIG. 5 is a detailed sectional top view showing a drive chain in a channel guide connected to a bar across an opening,

FIG. 6 is a detailed sectional front view showing another embodiment of a connection between a bar and a drive chain,

FIG. 7 is a detailed sectional side view showing a further embodiment of a connection between a bar and a drive chain,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing bars connecting to side channels with an upper container to store the raised bars above the opening,

FIG. 9 is a detailed front elevational view showing the ends of bars joined to chain links and stored in a container above the opening,

FIG. 10 is a detailed sectional top view showing the escapement mechanism for ensuring bars from an upper container engaging with chain links a predetermined number apart on a drive chain,

FIG. 11 is an end view showing a container above an opening with bars and an escapement mechanism for feeding the bars into opposing chain links of drive chains on both sides of an opening,

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view showing another embodiment of a security bar assembly with flexible connection spacers between adjacent bars,

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing tape flexible connection spacers,

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing cable flexible connection spacers,

FIG. 15 is a side sectional view showing a linear container for retaining bars,

FIG. 16 is a side sectional view showing a nonlinear container for retaining bars,

FIG. 17 is a side view showing a bar drive chain and a storage drive chain with bars spaced apart according to a further embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 18 is a side view similar to FIG. 17 showing two bars nestled together on the storage drive chain,

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing two bars with elongated anchors overlapping and the bars nestled together,

FIG. 20 is a schematic perspective view showing the intermittent drive mechanism for the storage drive chain according to an embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 21 is a partial front elevational view showing yet a further embodiment of the present invention wherein the bars are angled across the opening,

FIG. 22 is a detailed sectional front view showing a drive chain which is not endless and stores the spare chain links between rods above the opening.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A security bar assembly 10 is shown in FIG. 1 with a plurality of bars 12 spaced apart by connecting links 14 which are interspaced between adjacent bars 12. The connecting links 14 for two adjacent bars 12 are interspaced between connecting links 14 joined to bars above and below the two adjacent bars 12. The ends of each bar 12 are inserted into channels 16 which have an drive chain 18 which moves on a first sprocket 20 and a second sprocket 22.

FIG. 2 shows a section of a security bar assembly 10 positioned in front of an opening 24 in a wall 26. A storage area such as a container 28 is shown above the opening 24 and folded security bars 12 with connecting links 14 are shown in the container 28. FIG. 3 shows a similar sectional view of a security bar assembly to that shown in FIG. 2, the difference being that the container 28 is positioned below the opening 24.

Details of the drive chain 18 are shown in FIG. 4 rotating about the second sprocket 22 which has an axis of rotation projecting from the wall substantially perpendicular to the bars 12. Each bar 12 has at either end a projection 30 which passes through a side slot 32 in the side of the channel 16. The projection 30 has a disk member 34 to retain the end of the bar 12 within the channel 16 and has an end piece 36 that extends to fit exactly in an aperture of a chain link 38 of the drive chain 18. A chain guide 40 in a lower channel member 42 acts to push the drive chain 18 away from the sprocket 22 so that the end piece 36 of each of the bars 12 do not interfere with the teeth of the sprocket 22. The channels 16 are held to the wall beside the opening 24 by bolts 44 and a snap-on cover 46, shown in FIG. 5, extends over the channel 16. As the channel 16 is preferably placed on the inside of the building, the cover 46 can only be reached from the inside.

A multiple tooth connection is shown in FIG. 6 wherein the disk member 34 on the projection 30 of the bar 12 has two end pieces 36 that are spaced apart the exact distance so that they engage in adjacent apertures between chain links 38. The two end pieces 36 prevent the bar 12 from rotating.

Whereas FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show the drive chains 18 with sprocket axes substantially at right angles to the bars 12, FIG. 7 shows another embodiment wherein the sprocket axes are substantially parallel to the bars 12. A modified chain link plate 38A is shown with an engagement groove 39 spaced away from the drive chain 18. The end piece 36 of the bar 12 fits within the engagement groove 39 and holds the bar 12 as though it were held in the chain link in the manner shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. The drive chain 18 and sprockets 20,22 are then turned through 90.degree. so the channels 16 can be placed in the sides of an opening.

Whereas FIG. 1 shows connecting links 14 between bars 12, FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a security bar assembly with bars 12 and no connecting links joining the bars 12 together. This is possible because the opening is not too wide and the bars 12 cannot easily be pried apart. FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate the mechanism for the shutter assembly shown in FIG. 8. The drive chain 18 as shown in FIG. 9 rotates on the first sprocket 20 which is an eight tooth drive sprocket having one tooth missing. Every time the first sprocket 20 rotates and the missing tooth is open, the end piece 36 of the projection 30 from each bar 12 engages in a connection aperture in the chain link 38 and is then conveyed across the opening as the drive chain 18 moves around the sprocket 20. The missing tooth on the sprocket 20 is shown more clearly in FIG. 10 with the end piece 36 engaging in the chain link 38 of the drive chain 18. The first sprocket 20 rotates on axle 48 which in turn is driven by a driven bevel gear 50. A drive shaft 52 extends across the opening between the two drive chains 18. While not shown, the drive shaft 52 is driven by a gear motor that can rotate in either direction to slide the bars 12 across the opening. On either end of the drive shaft is a drive bevel gear 54 that engages the driven bevel gear 50 on the axle 48 to drive the first sprocket 20. Thus, rotation of the drive shaft 52 rotates both first sprockets 20 on either side of the opening in the channels 16 and moves the chains 18 at exactly the same speed so that the bars 12 remain substantially evenly spaced apart when they are engaged in individual chain links of the drive chain 18.

An escapement wheel 56 is attached to the drive bevel gear 54 and has a notch 58 to engage the projection 30 of a bar 12. Initially the bars 12 are stored in a stored configuration which in the embodiment shown is a container 28 above the opening and positioned above the cross shaft 52. A guide strip 60 guides the bars 12 into a slot 62 where they individually fall. As the escapement wheel 56 rotates the projection 30 of the first bar 12 is engaged by the notch 58 which moves the bar 12 down until the end piece 36 of the bars 12 engages in the connection aperture of the chain link 38 that is positioned on the sprocket 20 at the location where the tooth is missing. This applies for both sprockets 20 for both drive chains 18 on either side of the opening. As the drive chains 18 move downward, the projections 30 of the bars 12 fit into the slots 32 of the channels 16. The escapement wheel 56 continues to rotate until it picks up a second bar 12 and lowers that in the slots 32 of the channels 16, at the same time each end piece 36 of the bars 12 fits into a connection aperture of a chain link at the missing tooth position on the sprocket 20. This continues until all of the bars 12 are spaced apart across the opening 24. For an eight tooth sprocket 20, the end piece 36 will engage in every eighth chain link. In one embodiment an eight tooth drive sprocket with one tooth missing provides 4" spacing for the bars. In a further embodiment the speed of the drive chain represents 2" per second both up and down.

When raising the bars, the drive chain moves in the opposite direction as does the escapement wheel 56. The notch 58 in the escapement wheel 56 picks up the projections 30 of each bar 12 and disengages the end piece 36 from the drive chain 18. The bar 12 is raised and pushed into the container 28 pushing other bars upwards. The container 28 is preferably lined with soft material to reduce the noise of the bars 12. As the bars 12 move upwards they spread out to take up the space of the container 28.

Whereas the mechanism shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 illustrates the container 28 being on top of the opening, in another embodiment the container 28 may be positioned below the opening. The same mechanism as is illustrated would be used for feeding individual horizontal bars 12 to engage with the chain 18. However, there is a spring mechanism (not shown) provided to push each horizontal bar 12 up to ensure that each of the projections 30 engages in the notch 58 of the escapement wheel 56.

In further embodiments, the security bar assembly may have the bars 12 substantially vertical, with the channels 16 and drive chains 18 at top and bottom. In this configuration, the engagement of the bars 12 in the drive chains 18 does not rely on gravity.

When connecting links 14 join the bars together, the escapement wheel is not essential providing the first bar 12 is always retained in a chain link 38 of the drive chain 18. The sprocket with one tooth missing only allows the end piece 36 of a bar 12 to engage where that sprocket tooth is missing. With the mechanism shown in FIG. 4, a chain guide 40 pushes the drive chain 18 out from the sprocket 20,22 so that the sprocket teeth do not interfere with the end piece 36 of the bar 12 engaging in a chain link 38 of the drive chain 18. In this mechanism other spacing arrangements are provided. In one embodiment plugs 70 such as that shown in FIG. 4, are positioned in each of the so-called connection apertures or spaces in the chain links 38. The plugs 70 are preferably made of plastic and move with the chain links 38, thus preventing the end pieces 36 of the bars 12 engaging in a chain link 38. By spacing the plugs 70 a predetermined number of chain links apart along the drive chain, the bars 12 are spaced apart the predetermined distance as they cannot engage in the chain 38 links where the plugs are located.

Another embodiment to maintain the predetermined distance apart is shown in FIG. 12. In this embodiment, the container 28 to retain the bars 12 is positioned below the opening under the second sprocket 22.

The sprocket 22 is a truncated sprocket, that is to say, a sprocket with the tips of the teeth 22A removed. By having truncated teeth, the end pieces 36 of the bars 12 do not interfere with the teeth 22A.

Whereas a truncated sprocket is shown for this embodiment, a sprocket with a missing tooth as shown in FIG. 9 may be used or, alternatively, chain guides 40, as shown in FIG. 4 may be used to move the chain away from the sprocket.

Flexible connection spacers 80 are shown attached to the projections 30 at each end of all the bars 12. The spacers determine the predetermined distance between the bars 12 when they are across the opening, but fold as shown in FIG. 12 when the bars are moved across the opening into the container 28 so they are able to nestle up to each other. When the first bar 12, which is never disengaged from the drive chains 18, moves up, the spacers 80 pull the adjacent bar behind it to engage in chain links of the drive chains 18.

As shown in FIG. 13, the flexible connection spacer 80 is a tape with holes 82 that fit over the projection 30 at the ends of the bars 12. In another embodiment separate tapes of predetermined lengths are attached between adjacent bars 12. In FIG. 14, the flexible connection spacer 80 is a cable and fits through a hole 84 in the projections 30 at the ends of the bars 12. Set screw clamps 86 through the end pieces 36 secure the cable spacer 80 to maintain the distance between the bars 12. FIG. 15 shows the container 28 shaped so that the bars 12 are positioned linearly therein. FIG. 16 shows the container 28 shaped so that the bars are positioned non-linearly. The container 28 is positioned below the opening as shown in FIG. 12.

In FIGS. 17, 18 and 19, another embodiment is shown which has a second set of drive chains referred to as storage drive chains 90. These storage drive chains 90 are positioned in line with the bar drive chains 18 either adjacent the first sprocket 20 positioned above the opening or positioned adjacent the second sprocket 22 below the opening. In the embodiments shown, the sprockets are all truncated sprockets as shown in FIG. 12, so the sprocket teeth do not interfere with the connections between the drive chains and the bars 12. The bars 12 have projections 30 at each end to fit in side slots 32 of the channels 16 as shown in FIG. 5. Disk members 34 on the ends of the projections have elongated anchors 92 which have four protrusions 94 in line to engage in apertures of adjacent chain links. As shown in FIG. 19, the anchors 92 have a width less than half the width of the space between link plates in the chain link, and the anchors are arranged to overlap so that adjacent bars 12 have anchors offset so that the bars can be retained together when in the container 28.

In FIG. 17 the bars 12 are shown spaced apart with a first bar having the anchor 92 spanning between the bar drive chain 18 and the storage drive chain 90. When the bars 12 are moved into storage, the bar drive chain 18 moves the anchor 92 so that it engages with the storage drive chain 90, this chain is driven intermittently and it moves just sufficient for the top anchor 92 to clear the bar drive chain 18. Then, as shown in FIG. 18 the next bar 12 is moved up and the anchor 92 of the lower bar overlaps the anchor 92 of the first bar so the two bars 12 nestle together. Thus, when the bars are stored they are all nestled together on the storage drive chain 90.

To lower or raise the bars 12, depending upon whether the storage drive chain 90 is positioned above or below the opening, the storage drive chain 90 moves intermittently feeding the bars so the anchors 92 engage into the continuously moving bar drive chain 18. The intermittent movement of the storage drive chain 90 is arranged to ensure that the space between bars, i.e., the number of chain links, is always the same across the opening.

FIG. 20 is a schematic perspective view of the drive mechanism for the bar drive chain 18 and the storage drive chain shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. An intermediate gear 100 meshes with a continuous drive gear 102 to drive the first or second sprockets 20,22 of the bar drive chain. An intermittent drive gear segment 104 is formed integral with the intermediate gear 100 and drives an intermittent drive gear 106 which drives the storage drive chain 90. An intermittent lock wheel 108 is keyed to the intermediate gear 100 and has a cutout 110 which is positioned above the intermittent drive gear segment 104. A locking dog 112 is attached to the intermittent drive gear 106 and only permits the intermittent drive gear 106 to rotate when the intermittent drive gear segment 104 meshes with the intermittent drive gear 106. At all other times the intermittent gear locking dog 112 cannot rotate as it is prevented by the periphery of the locking wheel 108.

The drive mechanism as described may be a gear drive motor to rotate the drive shaft 52. In a preferred embodiment a brake is included with the motor so the bars 12 cannot be shifted when the power is off. In another embodiment a manual rotating crank arm (not shown) may be provided so that if there is power failure the bars 12 can be either lowered or raised manually simply by rotating the drive shaft 52.

Furthermore, for emergencies, a clutch or release pin may be included between the gear drive motor and the drive shaft 52 to disengage the gear motor from the drive shaft 50. This allows the bars 12 to be pushed up or down as the drive chains move freely. The drive chains 18 rotate on the sprockets 20,22 and when each horizontal bar comes to the ends of the drive chains 12 it disengages from the drive chain 18 and either falls onto the floor or, alternatively, falls into a container depending upon the particular embodiment provided, thus providing an escape opening for an emergency. The security bar assembly is preferably placed on the inside of a building as intruders are not easily able to get at the operating mechanism.

FIG. 21 shows a security bar assembly wherein the ends of the bars 12 are connected together with a pivotal sliding bar attachment 120 that can have a single pin assembly for connecting to a chain link 38 as shown in FIG. 4, or a multiple connection as shown in FIG. 6. This permits the bars 12 to be zig-zagged across the opening.

Whereas the drive chains 18 shown in the other Figures have been shown rotating about first sprocket 20 second sprocket 22 in FIG. 22 there is shown a drive chain 18A which is not endless. A single drive sprocket 20A is positioned at the top of the channel 16 and the drive chain 18A has the end pieces 34 of the bar permanently attached to chain links 38 spaced a predetermined number of links apart. The sprocket 20A is a truncated sprocket so the teeth do not interfere with the end pieces 36 of the bars 12. When the bars 12 are moved up into the storage area 28 the intermediate chain links of the drive chain 18A fold up as shown in the Figure, so the bars 12 are stored as close together as possible. The sprocket 20A pulls the drive chain 18A down feeding the bars 12 across the opening and provided the spacing between the bars 12.

Various changes may be made to the embodiments shown herein without departing from the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the following claims.

Claims

1. A security bar assembly for an opening comprising:

a plurality of bars extending between two channels, the two channels positioned one on opposite faces of the opening, the bars slidable within the channels and having ends of the bars retained in the channels over the opening;

bar drive chains, having adjoining chain links, guided within the two channels;

each of the bars having a connection at each end to engage in chain links in the drive chains, the engaged chain links spaced apart a predetermined number of chain links in each of the drive chains, and retaining the bars a predetermined distance apart;

a drive mechanism for moving the drive chains at substantially the same speed to slide the bars in the channels over the opening, and

a storage area adjacent the opening associated with the channels to retain the bars when they are not in place over the opening.

2. The security bar assembly according to claim 1 wherein the drive mechanism for moving the drive chains is at least one sprocket to engage each of the drive chains.

3. The security bar assembly according to claim 2 wherein the sprocket has truncated teeth.

4. The security bar assembly according to claim 1 wherein the drive chains are guided in the two channels and move about a first sprocket and a second sprocket.

5. The security bar assembly according to claim 1 wherein the drive chains fit in slots formed in the channels with chain links having connection apertures towards the opening for engaging the ends of the bars.

6. The security bar assembly according to claim 2 wherein the at least one sprocket has an axis substantially perpendicular to the bars.

7. The security bar assembly according to claim 2 wherein the at least one sprocket has an axis substantially parallel to the bars, and wherein the connection apertures in the chain links comprises modified chain side link plates with engagement grooves for the ends of the bars.

8. The security bar assembly according to claim 2 wherein the at least one sprocket has at least one tooth missing, and the connection at each end of each of the bars engages in one of the connection apertures of the chain links at the location on the at least one sprocket where the tooth is missing.

9. The security bar assembly according to claim 2 including an escapement mechanism to feed the ends of each of the bars to engage in one of the chain links of each of the drive chains, the engaged chain links in each of the drive chains being spaced apart predetermined distances to provide desired spacing between the bars.

10. The security bar assembly according to claim 2 wherein the at least one sprocket is driven by a cross shaft which in turn is driven by a drive mechanism.

11. The security bar assembly according to claim 10 wherein the drive mechanism includes a manual drive.

12. The security bar assembly according to claim 10 wherein the at least one sprocket has a bevel gear connection to the cross shaft adjacent the opening, and the drive mechanism includes an escapement wheel mechanism driven by the cross shaft to ensure the ends of the bars engage in the engaged chain links of each of the drive chains.

13. The security bar assembly according to claim 1 wherein the storage area is a container positioned above the opening.

14. The security bar assembly according to claim 1 wherein the storage area is a container positioned below the opening.

15. The security bar assembly according to claim 2 wherein the ends of the bars each have at least two protrusions to fit in connection apertures of adjacent chain links.

16. The security bar assembly according to claim 1 wherein the ends of adjacent bars have flexible connection spacers with similar lengths to retain the bars at the predetermined distance apart.

17. The security bar assembly according to claim 16 wherein the flexible connection spacers comprise tapes for joining the ends of the bars together.

18. The security bar assembly according to claim 16 wherein the flexible connection spacers comprise a tape for each channel, the tape having holes therealong for engagement with the ends of the adjacent bars.

19. The security bar assembly according to claim 16 wherein the flexible connection spacers comprise a cable for each of the channels, the ends of the adjacent bars each having attachments to the cable at predetermined spaced apart positions along cable length.

20. The security bar assembly according to claim 16 wherein the storage area for the bars is positioned below the opening and the flexible connection spacers pull adjacent bars so the connection at each end engages in the engaged chain links on opposing drive chains as the bars are raised in the channels.

21. The security bar assembly according to claim 20 wherein the storage area for the bars is a container is shaped to store the bars in a linear arrangement.

22. The security bar assembly according to claim 20 wherein the storage area for the bars is a container is shaped to store the bars in a non-linear arrangement.

23. The security bar assembly according to claim 1 including storage drive chains positioned adjacent and in line with the bar drive chains;

the connection at each end of the bars comprising an elongated anchor to fit in at least two apertures of adjacent engaged chain links and having sufficient length to span between the storage drive chains and the bar drive chains;

the elongated anchors on adjacent bars retaining the adjacent bars close together in the storage area; and

an intermittent drive for the storage drive chains to feed the bars spaced the predetermined distance apart to the bar drive chains and collect the bars from the bar drive chains and retain the bars closely together.

24. The security bar assembly according to claim 23 wherein the elongated anchors on adjacent bars overlap when the bars are retained closely together in the storage area.

25. The security bar assembly according to claim 23 wherein the elongated anchors have four protrusions in line to fit in four connection apertures of adjacent chain links, and wherein the elongated anchors have a thickness representing less than half aperture widths in the chain links, when the anchors on adjacent bars overlap, the protrusions on the adjacent anchors fit within similar connection apertures.

26. The security bar assembly according to claim 4 wherein the drive chains each have an offset guide adjacent the first sprocket and the second sprocket to guide the drive chains away from the first sprocket and the second sprocket to enable the ends of each of the bars to engage in the connection apertures of the opposing engaged chain links.

27. The security bar assembly according to claim 26 including chain link inserts positioned in the connection apertures of the chain links not engaging an end of a bar.

28. The security bar assembly according to claim 1 including a release mechanism to disconnect the drive mechanism for moving the drive chains, thus permitting the drive chains to move freely by pushing on the bars to provide an emergency exit opening.

29. The security bar assembly according to claim 1 wherein the ends of each of the bars have retaining heads to retain the ends of each of the bars in the two channels.

30. The security bar assembly according to claim 1 including a locking mechanism to prevent the bars being moved manually when in position over the opening.

31. The security bar assembly according to claim 30 wherein the locking mechanism is a gear drive motor which locks when not rotating so that the bars cannot be moved manually when in position over the opening.

32. The security bar assembly according to claim 1 wherein the drive mechanism is a gear drive motor, and including a limit switch to stop the gear drive motor when the bars cover the opening or are all retained in the storage area.

33. The security bar assembly according to claim 1 including a safety switch to stop the drive mechanism from moving the drive chains when at least one bar is prevented from moving.

34. The security bar assembly according to claim 1 wherein the bar drive chain is driven by a single sprocket adjacent a face of the opening, the drive chain having bars attached to chain links in opposing drive chains, the drive chains and bars being retained in the storage area positioned adjacent the opening when the bars are not in place over the opening.

35. The security bar assembly according to claim 1 wherein the bar drive chain is driven by a single sprocket adjacent a top face of the opening, the drive chain having bars attached to chain links in opposing drive chains, the drive chains and bars being retained in the storage area positioned above the opening when the bars are not in place over the opening.

36. The security bar assembly according to claim 1 wherein the bars are arranged in a zig-zag configuration across the opening with the ends of adjacent bars being pivotally joined at the connection at each end.

37. A method of forming a security bar assembly in an opening including a plurality of security bars, the bars having retained ends extending between two channels on opposing faces of the opening and slidable therein, comprising the steps of:

moving drive chains in guides within the two channels, the drive chains having adjoining chain links;

feeding opposing retained ends of a first bar to engage in first chain links of the drive chains so the first bar slides across the opening;

feeding a second bar to engage in second chain links spaced a predetermined number of chain links from the first chain links; and

continuing moving the drive chains and engaging further bars in further chain links spaced the predetermined number of chain links apart until the security bar assembly covers the opening.

38. The method of forming a security bar assembly according to claim 37 wherein the bars are retained in a storage area above the opening, and are fed down one at a time to engage with the opposing chain links of the drive chains.

39. The method of forming a security bar assembly according to claim 37 wherein the bars are retained in a storage area below the opening, and are fed up one at a time to engage with opposing chain links of the drive chains.

40. A method of forming a security bar assembly in an opening including a plurality of security bars having retained ends engaged in chain links of drive chains guided in two channels on opposing faces of the opening and slidable therein, comprising the steps of:

moving the drive chains in guides within the two channels until a first bar having ends engaged in first chain links of the drive chains slides across the opening;

continuing moving the drive chains in the guides until a second bar having ends engaged in second chain links of the drive chains slides across the opening; and

further moving the drive chains with further bars engaged in further chain links until the security bar assembly covers the opening.