Abstract:
In combination, a window frame and a series of bars carried by the frame for bodily movement toward and away from a side of the frame, said bars having ends, and locking members to lock opposite ends of the bars in window protecting positions thereof, and wherein the bars have been moved way from said side of the frame. Louvers may also be carried by the bars, for added security, and for decorative effect.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the controlled prevention of access through windows, and more particularly to window bars that are movable into and out of position blocking access through a window, and which are easily and securely lockable in that position. The invention also provides for mounting of louvers on such movable bars. The rods and louvers provide a product offering both security and decorative effect. 
     There is continuing need for prevention of access through windows, as by use of bars; however, efficient control of movement of such bars into and out of access blocking relation is also desirable, in order not to prevent escape from a room interior through the window, as in the case of fire or smoke in the room. 
     There is also need for a way to securely lock window bars in such access blocking position, and to unlock the bars, as by enabling their movement to enable such access. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a major object of the invention to provide improvements in apparatus and method to meet the above needs. Basically, the apparatus of the invention comprises: 
     a) a window frame and a series of bars carried by the frame for bodily movement toward and away from a side of the frame, the bars having ends, and 
     b) locking members to lock opposite ends of the bars in window protecting position wherein the bars have been moved away from a side of the frame. 
     As will appear, louvers may be carried by the movable bars, in such manner as not to interfere with their controlled movement away from access blocking position, and also to add decorative effect to the bars, which provide security. 
     Another object is to provide first hinged members connected with certain ends of the bars that extend in a first row and second hinged members connected with other ends of the bars that extend in a second row. 
     A further object is to provide a frame to have first and second sections that extend generally parallel, the first hinged members located proximate the frame first section, and the second hinged members located proximate the frame second section. 
     An added object is to provide locking members that include first locking members movable into and out of rod end captivating position, and second locking members movable into and out of rod end captivating position, the first and second locking members being respectively at opposite ends of the rods. 
     As will appear, structure may be provided to operatively interconnect the first and second locking members, to move in synchronism, whereby opposite ends of the bars may be simultaneously locked in window access blocking position, and may be simultaneously unlocked, to allow bar movement out of such position. Further, the first and second locking members may comprise tubes having main slits extending lengthwise of the tubes and into which the rod ends are received for travel during said bodily movement of the rods, the tubes also having branch slits into which the rod ends are received and captivated, in response to tube rotation, to captivate the rods. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following specification and drawings, in which: 
    
    
     DRAWING DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 is a frontal view of window apparatus incorporating the invention showing security bars in extended positions; 
     FIG. 2 is a view like FIG. 1 but showing, the bars in retracted positions allowing access through the window; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary frontal view, showing bar extending and retracting mechanism, as well as bar locking mechanism; 
     FIG. 4 is an elevation taken in section on lines  4 — 4  of FIG. 3, with locking mechanism in one position; 
     FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 4, but showing the locking mechanism in another position; 
     FIG. 6 is a horizontal fragmentary plan view taken in section on lines  6 — 6  of FIG. 3, the bars being shown in extended positions; 
     FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 6, but showing the bars in retracted position; 
     FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevation taken on lines  8 — 8  of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a bar keeper (locking member) rotated into bar locking position; 
     FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view showing bar interconnecting hinge structure; 
     FIG. 11 is an enlarged end elevational view showing a keeper upper rotor in one position, as also seen in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 12 is a view like FIG. 11, but showing the keeper upper rotor in an alternate position, as also seen in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 13 is a section taken on lines  13 — 13  of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 14 is a section taken on lines  14 — 14  of FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 15 is a section taken on lines  15 — 15  of FIG. 8, and 
     FIG. 16 shows open and closed positions of louvers. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the drawings, a window frame  10  has upper and lower horizontal sections  10   a  and  10   b,  and left and right vertical sections  10   c  and  10   d.  The rectangular window space to be protected against through access is indicated at  11 , as in FIG.  2 . 
     A series of bars  12  is carried by the frame, for bodily movement between extended positions, as seen in FIG. 1, and retracted positions, i.e. movement away from and toward the side of the frame adjacent vertical frame section  10   d.  The bars may be metallic, and they have upper and lower ends  12   a  and  12   b,  seen in FIG.  3 . The bars may have flanges  12   c  and  12   d  to slide or track along frame surfaces  10   e  and  10   f.    
     Locking members, such as upper and lower horizontally elongated rotatable keepers, are provided at  13  and  14 . The ends of the keepers are suitably supported as at  15  and  16  to accommodate keeper rotation about their horizontal axes  13   a  and  14   a.  The locking members are operable to lock the opposite ends of the bars in bar extended positions, i.e. window opening protecting positions of the extended bars as seen in FIG.  3 . As shown, the upper or first keeper  13  is tubular, and has a primary rotated position, as seen in FIG. 8, in which the rod upper ends extend into the tube, via an elongated main through slit  18  in the tube wall, allowing the rods to be extended and retracted, as referred to. The lower or second keeper  14  is also tubular and has a corresponding primary rotated position in which the rod lower ends extend into the tube, via an elongated main through slit  18   a,  (see FIG. 3) like slit  18 , allowing the rods to be extended or retracted as referred to. Slits  18  and  18   a  extend lengthwise of the keeper tubes. 
     The upper keeper  13  also has a series of spaced apart branch through slits  19  intersecting slit  18 , and extending partially circumferentially, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 9. When keeper  13  is rotated, in extended positions of the bars, the bar upper ends become captivated in and by the branch slits, blocking bar movement from extended to retracted position. This condition is also seen in FIG.  6 . Likewise the lower keeper tube  14  has a series of spaced apart branch slits  20  intersecting slit  18   a,  and extending partially circumferentially. When keeper  14  is rotated (in synchronism with keeper  13 ), in extended positions of the bars, the bar lower ends become captivated in and by the branch slits  20  blocking bar movement from extended to retracted positions, for secure protection of window opening  11 . Alternatively, when the keepers  13  and  14  are rotated back to positions in which the bar rods are aligned with the main slits  18   a  and  19   a,  the bars can then be moved to FIG. 2 retracted position, i.e. the bar ends can travel in main slits  18   a  and  19   a.    
     Hinge links may be provided, as at  21  and  22  in FIGS. 3,  6 - 8 , and  10 , in space  44  between keeper  13  and frame wall  10   g,  to be pivotally connected with the bars near their upper ends, as at  21   a,  and the links may themselves be pivotally interconnected as at  23 . Such links pivotally extend and retract, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, to interconnect the bars for successive movement toward extended position, and for successive movement toward retracted positions. Tongue and groove parts  45  and  46  (see FIG. 10) limit extension of the links and therefore position the bar ends to enter the branch slits. 
     As referred to, a mechanism or structure is provided to operatively interconnect the rotary keepers  13  and  14  to move or rotate in synchronism, so that both the upper and lower ends of the bars are locked, i.e. captivated, or unlocked, at generally the same time. Such mechanism is shown to include operatively interconnected rotors  26  and  27 , rotor  26  connected to an end of upper keeper  13 , and rotor  27  connected to an end of lower keeper  14 . A tie rod or link  28  extends vertically between the rotors, and is pivotally connected thereto, as at  28   a  and  28   b.  A lever  30  is connected to and projects from rotor  26 , to be manually moved between up-position seen in FIG. 4, and down position in FIG. 5, tension being exerted by spring  50 . When so-moved, the tie rod causes simultaneous rotation (counter clockwise in FIGS. 4 and 5) of the keepers, as described. A lock lever  31  is held by a spring  32  in a pivoted position extending into a groove  33  in lower rotor  27 , in FIG. 4, blocking rotation of the keepers from rod end captivating position, i.e. to secure the bars in FIG. 1 window access blocking position. When lock lever  31  is manually pivoted to released position as seen in FIG. 5, the rotors and keepers can be rotated to positions to allow retraction of the bars. Levers  30  and  31  are typically located or project at the inner (room) side of the window, for control by the occupant. 
     Louvers  35  may be and are preferably pivotally connected to the rods, as seen in FIG. 15, and a flexible actuator chain  36  may be connected to the louvers, to pivot them to desired positions, relative to the window opening. Stops may be provided, as indicated at  36  in FIG. 7, to limit pivoting of the louvers, as at fully open position, as shown, and closed positions, blocking the access opening  11 . See also full line, and broken line positions of the louvers  35  and  35   a,  in FIG.  16 . The louvers provide decorative effect, and may be colored or have decorative designs (as at  37 ) on their faces. The louvers may be carried by the bars, as by bar reception in louver openings  35   b,  or by snap attachment to the bars. The louvers in closed position provide added security.