Patent ID: 6161605
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: E06B

Abstract:
A foldable security device for protecting against storm-related damage, vandalism, and unauthorized entry, a double-hung window with an upper sash, a lower sash, and an outer frame having an outermost groove, said device comprisinga plurality of rigid, abrasion-resistant, and high impact strength protective panels each having an essentially rectangular and planar configuration, a minimum thickness of approximately one-half inch, a top edge, opposed side edges, a bottom edge, and a back surface, each of said protective panels also being aligned with and attached to the remainder of said protective panels so that each of said protective panels is connected to at least one of the remainder of said protective panels and said protective panels can be placed into a compactly folded configuration wherein each of said protective panels is positioned essentially parallel to the remainder of said protective panels and collectively all of said protective panels can be opened into an essentially flat configuration for use, with one of said protective panels being an uppermost protective panel having a non-connected top edge, and also with one of said protective panels being a lowermost protective panel having a non-connected bottom edge, said protective panels also having a connected length and width dimension that is slightly larger than the dimension of the outermost groove of the double-hung window intended for protection so that said protective panels remain within the outermost groove during use at a spaced-apart distance from the upper and lower sashes, and wherein each of said protective panels comprise a plurality of reinforcing bars;a first connection means attaching said top edge of said lowermost protective panel, said bottom edge of said uppermost protective panel, and said top and bottom edges of the remainder of said protective panels to a next adjacent one of said protective panels, said first connection means adapted for secure connection of adjacent ones of said protective panels and for allowing said protective panels collectively to be placed into said compactly folded configuration;a plurality of flexible straps, each of said straps having a proximal end and a distal end, with one-half of said straps being upper straps and one-half of said straps being lower straps, said proximal ends of each of said upper straps being attached to said back surface of said uppermost upper protective panel near to said top edge of said uppermost protective panel, and said proximal ends of each of said lower straps being attached to said back surface of said lowermost protective panel near to said bottom edge of said lowermost protective panel in a position opposed to one of said upper straps, the length dimension of said straps being such that the combined length of each of said upper straps and the one of said lower straps positioned opposite thereto allows said upper strap and said lower opposed strap to become connected taut to one another behind the upper and lower sashes of the double-hung window when the upper and lower sashes are in their closed and locked positions, and while taut allowing said upper strap and said lower strap to remain positioned entirely behind said protective panels;a second connection means for connecting said distal end of one of said upper straps to said distal end of an opposed one of said lower straps, said second connection means adapted for providing a strong non-slip connection between opposing ones of said upper and lower straps, said second connection means also being adapted for providing a quick-release connection between opposing ones of said upper and lower straps; anda third connection means for connecting each of said proximal ends of said upper straps to said back surface of said uppermost protective panel near to said top edge of said uppermost protective panel and connecting each of said proximal ends of said lower straps to said back surface of said lowermost protective panel near to said bottom surface of said lowermost protective panel, said third connection means adapted for providing a fixed strong connection between said protective panels and each of said straps;whereby when said top edges and said side edges of said uppermost protective panel, said bottom edge and said side edges of said lowermost protective panel, and said side edges of the remainder of said protective panels are placed within the outermost groove of a double-hung window and the upper and lower sashes of the double-hung window are placed in their closed and locked positions against the outer frame, said upper straps will become fixed securely against the outer frame by the upper sash and said lower straps will become fixed securely against the outer frame by the lower sash, and opposing ones of said upper and lower straps will be connected taut to one another by said second connection means behind the upper and lower sashes so that the outermost groove, the closed and locked upper and lower sashes, and said taut straps all work together to help to retain said upper and lower protective panels in a fixed position in front of the upper and lower sashes and at spaced-apart distances therefrom.